October 14, 2024
Phishing attacks are the most prevalent type of cybercrime for a simple reason: they are effective. Every day, over 3.4 billion spam emails flood the inboxes of unsuspecting users. Phishing emails have consistently ranked as the most common form of cyber attack due to their ease of implementation, scalability, and the fact that they continue to deceive people. The advent of AI tools like ChatGPT has made it even simpler for cybercriminals to craft emails that appear to be from legitimate sources rather than bots or scammers. If you're not vigilant, falling victim to phishing scams can have severe consequences.
Given that it's Cybersecurity Awareness Month and phishing emails remain a leading cause of cyber attacks, we've created this straightforward guide to help you and your team recognize phishing emails and understand the importance of doing so.
What are the risks? Here are four significant dangers associated with phishing attacks:
1. Data Breaches
Phishing attacks can expose your organization's sensitive information to cybercriminals. Once compromised, hackers can sell your data on the dark web or hold it for ransom, demanding exorbitant amounts for its return—though they may never actually return it. This can lead to financial and legal repercussions, tarnish your reputation, and erode customer trust.
2. Financial Loss
Cybercriminals frequently use phishing emails to directly steal money from businesses. Whether through fraudulent invoices or unauthorized transactions, falling prey to phishing can significantly impact your financial bottom line.
3. Malware Infections
Phishing emails often contain malicious attachments or links that, when clicked, can infect your systems with malware. This can disrupt your operations, lead to data loss, and necessitate costly remediation efforts.
4. Compromised Accounts
When employees fall for phishing scams, their accounts can be compromised. Attackers can then use these accounts to launch further attacks or gain unauthorized access to sensitive company data.
The risks extend beyond these examples, but there are steps you can take to avoid becoming the next victim of a phishing attack.
Here is the S.E.C.U.R.E. Method you and your employees can use to identify phishing emails:
- S - Start With The Subject Line: Is it unusual? (e.g., "FWD: FWD: FWD: review immediately")
- E - Examine The Email Address: Do you recognize the sender? Is the email address unusual or misspelled? Is it from an unknown source?
- C - Consider The Greeting: Is the salutation strange or generic? (e.g., "Hello Ma'am!")
- U - Unpack The Message: Is there a sense of extreme urgency to click a link, download an attachment, or act on an offer that seems too good to be true?
- R - Review For Errors: Are there grammatical mistakes or odd misspellings?
- E - Evaluate Links And Attachments: Hover over links before clicking to check the address, and avoid opening attachments from unknown senders or unexpected sources.
Additionally, it's crucial to have a cybersecurity expert monitor your network and filter out email spam before it reaches your employees. Ensure you are taking appropriate measures to protect your network. Phishing attacks are effective and occur frequently. We don't want YOU to be the next victim.
If you need help training your team on cybersecurity best practices or implementing a robust cybersecurity system, or just want a second set of eyes to examine what you currently have in place and assess if there are any vulnerabilities, we are ready to help. Call us at 201-719-7000 or click here to book a Call with Our CEO.
