Phishing attacks are basically the MVPs of cybercrime - why? Because they actually…work! With over 3.4 billion spam e-mails being sent out daily, it's no wonder that phishing e-mails are the reigning champs of cyber attacks. They are pretty much the easy bake oven of hacking - simple to whip up, easy to replicate, and always fooling someone. Now, with AI tools like ChatGPT in the mix, cybercriminals can make phishing e-mails look and sound like they're straight from a friendly human, not a shady bot.
So, during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we've put together a handy guide to help you spot those sneaky phishing e-mails and avoid falling into their trap. Trust us, it's more important than you think!
What can happen? Here are 4 significant dangers associated with phishing attacks:
1. Data Breaches
Beware of falling victim to phishing attacks! Cybercriminals are out there just waiting to lay their hands on your organization's juicy secrets. Once they have your sensitive data, they won't think twice about selling it off on the dark web or holding it hostage for a hefty ransom. And trust us, they won't be returning it anytime soon, if at all. Prepare yourself for a world of financial woes, legal troubles, a damaged reputation, and the loss of customer trust. So remember, don't take the bait!
2. Financial Loss
Beware of these cyber scammers since they love to fish for your money through sneaky phishing emails. Whether they're sending fake invoices or making unauthorized transactions, falling for their tricks can really hit your wallet hard.
3. Malware Infections
Be wary of phishing emails with sneaky attachments or links that, if opened, might just serve up a nice dish of malware for your systems. These unwanted guests can wreak havoc on your operations, cause data to go missing, and leave you with a hefty bill for cleanup. So stay sharp!
4. Compromised Accounts
Make sure your employees are aware and alert with these ongoing scams. Falling for these can lead to compromised accounts, which attackers can use for all sorts of mischief.
The S.E.C.U.R.E. Method
Here is the S.E.C.U.R.E. Method you AND your employees can use to help identify these suspicious e-mails:
- S – Start With The Subject Line: Does it seem a little odd? (e.g., “FWD: FWD: FWD: review immediately”)
- E – Examine The E-mail Address: Do you even know this person? Is the email address just unusual (e.g., spelled differently) or unknown (not a typical email address that they usually send from)?
- C – Consider The Greeting: Does the salutation or greeting seem way out of character, unusual or generic? (e.g., “Hello Ma’am!”)
- U – Unpack The Message: Is the message trying way too hard to make you click on a sketchy link, download a suspicious attachment, or fall for a deal that sounds too good to be true?
- R – Review For Errors: Are there grammatical mistakes or odd misspellings?
- E – Evaluate Links And Attachments: Don't be click-happy just yet! Hover over links to double-check their destination before you blindly click away. And remember, DO NOT open attachments from anyone you don’t know or weren’t even expecting to receive mail from.
Do not fall victim to phishing attacks! Have a cybersecurity pro keep an eye on your network and squash those pesky e-mail spams before your team hits the wrong button. Gear up your defenses and stay one step ahead of cyber criminals. Take the proper precautions to protect your network. These phishing attacks work and happen all the time! Let us give your cybersecurity a check-up - we'll make sure you're not the next target.
Need help training your squad on cyber safety or beefing up your security system? We've got your back! Call us at 201-492-1900 or click here to book a 10-minute discovery call with our team. Let's lock down your network before the bad guys strike!