BotNet News

Phishing is a malicious attempt to gain access to a user’s personal information or credentials. Attackers use social engineering tactics like creating a sense of urgency to trick users into clicking or opening malicious attachments. This allows attackers to download malware onto the victim’s device or access their account in order to steal their sensitive data or login credentials.

Typically, phishing emails will contain a link or an attachment that will redirect the user to a malicious website designed to steal sensitive information. Attackers may also spoof domain names to make them look legitimate. For example, an attacker might register a domain name that is very similar to a reputable company or popular service. The attacker might then include the cloned site in their email or on a pop-up window to deceive unsuspecting victims into clicking the links or entering information.

Attackers are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to target people with personalized phishing emails. The attacks can incorporate real company news, mimic a coworker’s writing style, or even include information gleaned from a person’s social media profiles. This level of personalization makes phishing more convincing and successful.

To help combat phishing, the FIPP team has developed a new training tool to teach employees how to recognize phishing attempts. The online training tool focuses on teaching users to be vigilant with their emails and to question the legitimacy of any unsolicited requests. In addition, users should be sure to scan their devices for any potential malware infections and run updates to their operating systems and software to mitigate threats stemming from a phishing attack.