BotNet News

Phishing involves hackers gaining access to your organization’s network by tricking employees into downloading malware or divulging confidential information. The goal is to steal your money, data or credentials and sell them on the dark web. Cybercriminals use fear, curiosity or a sense of urgency to get employees to click on links or open attachments. Messages can be sent via email, voice (vishing), SMS text messages (SMiShing) or pop-up windows.

Identifying phishing emails used to be a matter of looking for grammar mistakes and misspellings, but the rise of AI means that phishing attacks are becoming more sophisticated in their approach. A good rule of thumb is that if an email seems suspicious, hovering your mouse over a link will give you the opportunity to view the true URL and see if it matches what’s written in the message.

Another sign of phishing is the use of threatening or urgent language – messages that warn you that your account will be deleted, for example, are often red flags. Also, remember that legitimate companies will never ask you for sensitive details like passwords over email.

Some phishers take the time to tailor a phishing attack specifically for you, using data they’ve gleaned from social media or other public sources. This is called spearphishing.

It’s important to remember that criminals can target your personal as well as professional accounts. Review your personal accounts for unauthorized transactions, changes or new contacts. Consider adding 2FA to your accounts for added protection. And if you do spot any suspicious activity, report it immediately to your financial institutions and digital risk protection solutions.