What is Phishing and How Can it Affect Your Business?
Phishing is a cyber attack that tricks users into clicking malicious links in emails, texts, social media messages, and websites. These links can download malware onto their devices and cause them to be controlled by hackers.
The FBI has seen phishing attacks targeting employees in nearly every industry. For example, an email disguised as a recruitment plan in 2017 tricked one employee into clicking a link and enabling backdoor access to their company’s systems. This allowed attackers to bypass two-factor authentication and steal sensitive company data.
Messages that demand urgent action or use threats are common tactics in phishing emails. These emails typically encourage the recipient to click a link or call a phone number immediately to avoid negative consequences. Legitimate organizations would never ask you to provide your personal details over the telephone or internet, especially when they haven’t previously reached out to you.
Staff awareness training on phishing can help reduce the impact of these attacks on your organization. Educating staff on how to recognize phishing emails and fake websites can help them take appropriate action, such as reporting suspicious activities. Additionally, encouraging staff to hover their mouse over links rather than click them can help them view the destination address. This is particularly important as buttons are becoming more popular in phishing emails and can conceal the actual URL.