Phishing messages are suspicious emails or text messages used to trick people into revealing their personal and financial information by clicking on malicious links. The attacker usually poses as a legitimate organization to gain access to sensitive information.
Anyone can potentially fall victim to a phishing attack, but certain groups are more likely to be targeted. These include people who work in high-level positions or have access to sensitive information, as well as those who use the same password for multiple accounts. Additionally, young people and those new to online communication may not be aware of the dangers of phishing attempts.
As per the recent data from IRONSCALES, a whopping 81% of organizations globally have witnessed an upsurge in email phishing attacks since March 2020. This is further corroborated by APWG’s report that highlighted an unprecedented number of phishing attempts during Q3 2022.
Over the years, IT professionals have noticed a surge in malicious attacks delivered through non-email communication platforms. Over one-third of experts noted an upswing in social engineering tactics occurring across other channels including video conferencing platforms (44%), workforce messaging platforms (40%), cloud-based file-sharing platforms (40%), and SMS (36%).
To keep up with the changing digital landscape, email security providers are abandoning their old-fashioned Secure Email Gateways that only blocked incoming threats and turning to solutions which protect against external and internal risks. Vendors have integrated popular messaging applications such as Microsoft Teams and Slack into their strategies for enhanced protection.
While potential phishing attacks are a huge issue for businesses nowadays, shockingly, one-fifth of organizations only offer yearly training to combat phishing. This lack of phishing awareness contributes to the fact that social engineering attacks—where criminals manipulate users into giving private information—are still among the most common causes behind data breaches. In Verizon’s 2022 DBIR report, 82% of these data breaches involve human involvement such as phishing scams.
Phishing attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and can be very difficult to spot. Don’t fret—our cyber security compliance team at Oppos has compiled this comprehensive guide to help understand what goes into a phishing attack and how it can be prevented. By learning the common signs of phishing and implementing secure practices, you can help protect yourself and your organization from becoming a victim.
What is a Phishing Attack?
A phishing scam is a form of cyber attack that uses a fraudulent email message or website to trick users into revealing their sensitive data, such as passwords or credit card numbers.
Cyber criminals typically pose as trustworthy entities, such as financial institutions, government agencies, or well-known companies. They use their victim’s personal details to do malicious activities online, commit fraud, and even go as far as stealing money.
It is important to remember that legitimate organizations will never ask you to provide your personal data via email or text message. They will always use their official domain name in communications with you. If an email or text message comes from an address that isn’t familiar to you, be suspicious.
Types of Phishing Attacks
There are a few different types of phishing attacks: email phishing, spear phishing, whaling, smishing and vishing, HTTPS Phishing, Pharming, Pop-up Phishing, Evil Twin Phishing, Watering Hole Phishing, Clone Phishing, Deceptive Phishing, Social Engineering, Man-in-the-Middle (MTM) Attacks, Website Spoofing, Domain Spoofing, Image Phishing, and Search Engine Phishing.Email Phishing
Phishing email attacks is the most common wherein an email claims to be from a legitimate company or website. The phishing email will usually contain a malicious link that takes the victim to a fake website that looks identical to the real website.
For example, an attacker may pose as a bank, asking victims to update their account information. When the victim clicks on the link in the email, they are taken to a phishing website that looks like their bank’s website but is actually fake. The attacker can then use the victim’s information to gain access to their accounts and steal money or commit fraud.
Phishing messages in these emails may also include information that is tailored to the victim, such as their name or account details.
Spear Phishing
Spear phishing is a targeted attack geared toward specific individuals or organizations. The attacker uses personal information and social engineering tactics to create a sense of trust and get the victim to reveal sensitive data or install malware.
An example of a spear phishing attack could be one where the attacker researches a specific company and its employees to gather information such as their names, job titles, email addresses, and interests. The attacker then creates a fake email that appears to be from a trusted source, such as a senior executive within the company or a trusted vendor. The email may contain a link to malicious websites or an attachment that, when clicked, installs malware on the target’s computer. The malware then collects sensitive information, such as login credentials and financial information, from the infected computer.
To protect against spear phishing attacks, be cautious of unsolicited emails and verify the authenticity of requests for sensitive information. It is also important to keep your personal information private and not reveal too much information on social media or other public platforms. Companies can also implement email security filters, user training programs, and anti phishing software to help detect and prevent spear phishing attacks.
Whaling
Whaling attacks are similar to spear phishing attacks but they target high-profile individuals such as executives, politicians, and celebrities. The attacker will craft a personalized email that is tailored to the victim’s position or expertise. The goal of a whaling attack is usually to gain access to important information or data that could be used for financial gain.
An example of whaling phishing scams is when an attacker sends an email to a company executive claiming to be from the company’s IT department. The email could ask the executive for their login credentials so that the “IT department” can help them access an important document. In reality, the attacker is attempting to gain access to sensitive information or data.
Smishing and Vishing
Smishing and vishing are similar to phishing emails, but they use text messages and phone calls instead of emails. The attacker will typically send a phishing message via text or make a phone call claiming to be from a legitimate company and asking for personal information.
In smishing and vishing, an attacker may call and say they are from a bank and need to verify the victim’s account information. When the victim provides their information, the attacker can then use it to steal money or commit fraud.
HTTPS Phishing
HTTPS Phishing campaigns are the ones where the attacker creates a fake website that appears to be a legitimate one, but uses a fraudulent SSL certificate to encrypt the connection between the user and the site. The SSL certificate gives the illusion that the site is secure, even though it is not. The user is tricked into entering their sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card numbers, which is then captured by the attacker.
For example, a user receives an email that appears to be from their bank, asking them to log into their account to check for suspicious activity. The email contains a link to a website that appears to be the bank’s site, but is actually a fake site created by the attacker. The site uses a fraudulent SSL certificate to give the illusion of security, and the user is prompted to enter their login credentials.
Once the attacker has the login credentials, they can use them to access the user’s real bank account and steal their money. To protect against HTTPS phishing, it is important to be cautious of unsolicited emails, to verify the authenticity of any website before entering sensitive information, and to check that the SSL certificate is valid and issued by a trusted authority.
Pharming
Pharming attacks use malicious software to redirect users from a legitimate website to a fake one without their knowledge. This type of attack can also be used to steal personal information or passwords from unsuspecting victims.
Say a user is trying to access their bank account online. In an instance of pharming, when they open up their browser and enter the website address for the bank, instead of going directly there, they could be rerouted to a fake website that looks like it’s actually from a legitimate banking institution. From there, the attacker can steal the victim’s login credentials and gain access to their account.
Pop-up Phishing
Pop-up phishing attacks use pop-up windows that appear on legitimate websites. The pop-up window may ask for personal information, such as a username and password, or it may contain malicious software that can be installed on the user’s computer.
An example of such an attack could be a pop-up window appearing in a web browser that appears to be from a trusted source, such as a bank or well-known company, asking the user to enter their login credentials or personal information. However, the pop-up is actually controlled by the attacker and the information entered is captured by them. Once the attacker has the information, they can use it for malicious purposes, such as identity theft or unauthorized access to financial accounts.
Evil Twin Phishing
Evil Twin Phishing is a type of cyber attack where the attacker creates a fake wireless access point that mimics a legitimate one, in order to trick unsuspecting users into connecting to it. Once the user connects to the fake access point, the attacker can steal sensitive information, such as login credentials, credit card numbers, and other personal information.
This type of attack is particularly dangerous because it is difficult for the user to distinguish between the real and fake access points, especially if the fake one has a similar name to the legitimate one.
To protect against Evil Twin Phishing attacks, users should be cautious when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, and should always verify the name and security settings of any access point before connecting.
For instance, a user is in a coffee shop and wants to connect to the Wi-Fi to check their email. They see two Wi-Fi networks available, one called “Coffee Shop Wi-Fi” and another called “Free Coffee Shop Wi-Fi.” The user chooses “Free Coffee Shop Wi-Fi” because it is free, but in reality it is a fake network created by the attacker.
Once the user connects to the fake network, the attacker can intercept all the data being sent over the network, including login credentials, passwords, and other sensitive information. The attacker can then use this information for malicious purposes, such as identity theft or unauthorized access to financial accounts.
To avoid falling for Evil Twin Phishing attacks, users should always verify the name and security settings of any Wi-Fi network before connecting and should use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt their internet connection when on public Wi-Fi.
Watering Hole Phishing
Watering Hole Phishing is a type of phishing attack where the attacker targets a specific group of individuals by compromising websites that they frequently visit. The attacker infects these websites with malware, which then infects the computers of anyone who visits the site. The attacker can then use the infected computers to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials, credit card numbers, and other personal information.
For example, the attacker targets employees of a specific company by compromising the website of a professional organization that many of the employees belong to. The employees visit the site regularly for industry news and information. The attacker infects the site with malware, which then infects the computers of anyone who visits the site. The malware then collects sensitive information, such as login credentials and financial information, from the infected computers.
To protect against Watering Hole Phishing attacks, it is important to regularly update your security software and to be cautious of visiting websites that you are not familiar with or that seem suspicious. You should also avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown or untrusted sources.
10 Ways to Prevent Cyber Attacks: Your Guide to Increased Security
9 Common Signs of a Phishing
Phishing attacks can be difficult to detect, as they are often disguised as legitimate emails or websites. However, there are a few warning signs that you should look out for to help identify potential phishing attempts. These include:
Sense of Urgency
When it comes to phishing, there is a sense of urgency that is often used to trick people into clicking on malicious links or attachments. An example of an urgent request is a phishing message that says there is a problem with your account or that you need to take immediate action to avoid a negative consequence. The victim believes this information as it often seems legit. However, if you click on the link or attachment, you may be taken to a fake website or download malware onto your computer.
Action Items
Phishing emails will always try to compel you to perform a specific action. This can be clicking on a link, calling a number, downloading a file, forwarding it to someone else etc. Be very careful whenever a message is compelling you to do something and evaluate if that action could be a risk to you, your company or someone you know.
Vague Language
When attempting to phish for information, hackers will often use vague language in order to trick their victims. For example, hackers may send an email that says “We noticed some unusual activity on your account” in order to get victims to click on a link that will take them to a fake login page. By using vague language, hackers are able to trick people into giving them sensitive information without them knowing.
If you ever receive an email or see a message that uses vague language, be sure to exercise caution before clicking on any links or giving out any information.
Misspelled Words
One of the most common indicators that an email is a phishing attempt is grammar and spelling errors. This is often done in an attempt to avoid spam filters, which are designed to flag emails that contain certain keywords. However, depending on the level of sophistication of the attacker, the grammar and spelling errors may not be immediately obvious.
Suspicious Attachments
A common indicator of a phishing attempt is a suspicious attachment. This could be an executable file or a compressed archive, both of which can contain malicious code or malware. Before opening any attachments, make sure to verify that the sender is who they say they are and that the attachment is from a trusted source.
Abnormalities in Email Addresses, Hyperlinks, and Domain Names
Phishing emails may contain hyperlinks that have been crafted to look like a legitimate website or email address. However, when you hover over the link or domain name, it often reveals an abnormal URL or domain name. For example, if the message claims to be from Microsoft but the originating email addresses come with @gmail.com or @yahoo.com, then this should immediately spark suspicion for you.
Email Coded Entirely as a Hyperlink
Hackers have become increasingly savvy. Email coding has been used in phishing emails to disguise malicious links. By utilizing HTML formatting to code entire emails as hyperlinks, fraudsters are able to make the whole message clickable; meaning that if users haphazardly interact with an email from someone impersonating them, they will be instantly directed to whatever malicious page has been set up.
Emails with Brief Description
Not all phishing emails are long and filled with details. Some hackers will use emails that are short and to the point. The brevity often makes it seem more legitimate, as people expect long emails from companies or organizations they do business with. For example, a phishing email could be sent from Peter of ABC company which requests for data with an attachment titled ‘additional information’ in the hopes of tricking their target into clicking on it and thus putting their computer at risk.
Appeals to Authority
When trying to determine if an email is legitimate, one common mistake people make is to assume that an email is legitimate simply because it comes from a person in a position of authority. This is known as the “appeal to authority” fallacy, and it can be difficult to spot because we naturally trust people in positions of authority.
However, it’s important to remember that just because someone is in a position of authority, that doesn’t mean they can’t be spoofed or phished. In fact, phishers will often target people pretending to be authority figures because they know that people are more likely to trust emails that come from someone in a position of authority.
If you receive an email from someone in a position of authority, take a moment to assess the email before assuming it is legitimate.
How Can Phishing be Avoided?
Phishing can be avoided by following these general guidelines:
- Be cautious of unsolicited emails or messages: If you receive an email or message from an unknown sender or one that seems suspicious, do not click on any links or download any attachments.
- Verify the authenticity of sensitive information requests: If you receive an email or message that appears to be from a trusted source, such as a bank or government agency, and it is asking for sensitive information, do not provide it. Instead, verify the request by contacting the sender through a known and trusted method, such as a phone number or website that you have used before.
- Check the website URL first before entering sensitive information: Before entering any sensitive information on a suspicious site, make sure that the URL is correct and that it starts with “https”. Also, check for a padlock icon in the address bar, which indicates that the site is secure.
- Use security and phishing detection software: Make sure that your computer and mobile devices are protected by up-to-date anti-virus and anti-malware software. This software can help detect and prevent phishing attacks, as well as other types of cyber threats.
- Be aware of social engineering tactics: Phishing attacks often rely on social engineering tactics to trick you into revealing sensitive information. Be aware of these tactics, such as using a sense of urgency or fear, and take the time to carefully evaluate any requests for information.
- Use multi-factor authentication: Many websites and services now offer an additional layer of security known as “multifactor authentication”. This means that when you log into a website or service, you are required to provide two or more pieces of identifying information before being granted access. This makes it much harder for attackers to gain access to your accounts, even if they have gained access to your username and password.
By following these guidelines, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to a phishing attack and protect your sensitive information.
Protect Your Organization from Phishing
Cyber attacks such as phishing are becoming increasingly common and more sophisticated. It is important to be aware of the dangers associated with phishing and take steps to protect yourself from falling victim to an attack.
Legitimate users will never ask for sensitive information such as passwords or bank account details so never entertain such requests. Be sure to always follow good security practices such as using strong passwords, keeping your software up-to-date, and using multifactor authentication. Check your web browsers for any signs of suspicious activity such as popups or redirects, and make sure that the web URLs you are visiting start with “https”. Finally, be aware of social engineering tactics and take the time to carefully evaluate any requests for sensitive information.
Taking the time to familiarize yourself with the signs of phishing and spoofed emails can go a long way in keeping your data secure. Remember: if something seems suspicious or too good to be true, it probably is!
At Oppos Inc., we strive to keep our customers informed about cyber security incidents. Penetration Testing is one of the most effective methods to check your system’s security. If you would like to learn more about our services, please feel free to reach out to us. We are ready and willing to help you mitigate cyber risks and keep your data safe.
Phishing Attacks FAQs
If you open a link from a phishing email, you may be taken to a website that looks legitimate but is actually controlled by the attacker. This site can then ask for confidential data or infect your computer with malware. It is important to never click on any links from unknown senders and always double-check the URL before entering any sensitive information.
If you believe that your email account has been hacked, it is important to delete any suspicious emails. You should also change the password for that account and enable two-factor authentication if possible. Additionally, it may be wise to contact your email provider to let them know about the incident so they can take steps to protect other users from similar attacks.
