Are you constantly on edge, wondering if the email you received is a phishing attempt? You’re not alone. Many industries are seeing a recent uptick in the frequency of phishing, and we’re also seeing an increase in our client base at Clarity Technology Group.
As you consider how to protect your business from phishing attempts, let’s dive into what exactly phishing is, how to identify it, and how to prevent it within your organization. With a team of qualified IT experts, you can take preventative steps to protect your organization.
What is Phishing?
Phishing often comes from a fake or spoofed email, text message, or other electronic message. It often “looks” real, even though it’s a cybercriminal impersonating someone else. With phishing, a cybercriminal sends a fraudulent message designed to trick a person into revealing sensitive information to the attacker or deploying malicious software on the victim’s device or within their organization.
Most phishing involves cybercriminals deploying phishing emails or taking control of entire networks after phishing is deployed.
While phishing is most often done through email, there are surprising facts about phishing to be aware of. Namely, among email attacks, 95% pretend to be Amazon, eBay, or banks.
How to Identify Phishing
It’s not always easy to identify a phishing email, but there are some telltale signs to be aware of.
- Generic email introductions.
- URLs that look deceptive, inauthentic to the brand sending it, or have obvious errors (i.e., a bank name spelled similarly but with one minor mistake).
- Incorrect or out-of-date names, logos, dates, or designs.
- False sense of urgency. If you receive an email from your bank with a ridiculous timeline for a response, consider that the email may be fake.
- Included attachments. Attachments included from a brand are a major red flag and could signal a phishing email.
- The “hover to discover” trick. Hover over the sender’s display name and double check the email address matches the display name.
If you spot any of these signs of phishing, contact your IT team immediately before responding to the email, forwarding it, or clicking any links in the email.
How to Prevent Phishing
There are some easy steps to make a habit that will help prevent phishing attacks. If you lead an organization, include these steps in educational information for your employees. Knowledge is prevention when it comes to cybersecurity.
- When in doubt, verify the sender by phone.
- Never open attachments from unknown senders.
- Never click links in an email unless you’ve verified the sender.
- Never respond to a request to share sensitive information over email (i.e., passwords, credit card info, social security numbers, or bank information).
Prevent Phishing with IT Support
With a recent rise in phishing, your organization must invest in preventative cybersecurity. As a premier cybersecurity provider, Clarity Technology Group can ensure your systems, data, and even mobile devices are safeguarded from cyber criminals and their ever-evolving attacks to prevent security breaches and phishing attempts. Get in touch with our team to schedule a free assessment of your organization.