Viruses, worms, ransomware and adware are all threats to your computer, but what you may not know is how they get there in the first place. Email attachments, pop-ups and links can be entry points for cybercriminals. Learn more about phishing attacks and how to avoid them.
While most of the scams we’ve discussed so far tend to be more about nuisance than anything else, phishing can have serious risks. In addition to the potential for monetary losses, it can also be a gateway for hackers who want to access your personal accounts and steal your identity. In this article, we’ll teach you how to recognize the different types of phishing attacks and minimize the risk of becoming a victim. There’s nothing more important than keeping your personal information safe online. In this article, we’ll look at what phishing is and how you can protect yourself from it. And we’ll give you some examples of real-life data breaches.
What is a phishing attack?
Phishing is a type of social engineering where criminals attempt to convince people to reveal their personal and/or financial information. They usually achieve this by setting up fake websites that look like the real deal, or by sending emails or text messages claiming to be from legitimate organizations.
Phishing, pronounced “fishing”, is the practice of sending fraudulent emails that appear to come from a legitimate company you know or trust with the intention of stealing personal or financial information. The emails are designed to tempt people into either clicking on links or opening attachments which will then allow malware or spyware to be installed on their computer.
There are a few types of phishing attacks, but they all follow this basic principle.
1. Phishing via email
Phishing attacks can be hard to spot. They are carried out by sending emails that seem authentic, usually purporting to come from a trustworthy source, such as your bank. The fraudsters will encourage you to click on a link in the email, which takes you to a website that looks legitimate. If you enter your login details, the fraudsters will steal them and use them to access your account, where they can steal funds from it.
2. Spear phishing
Spear phishing is a specific type of phishing, but it’s a bit more targeted. Fraudsters will send an email directly to you, and it will look like it comes from someone you know. They often aim for people who work in finance or for major companies.
3. Whaling
Whaling is spear phishing targeted at high-level employees like CEOs and COOs, who are the ‘whales’. So hackers will use phishing techniques to steal their login details, giving them the power to potentially steal billions of dollars or completely take over systems.
4. Vishing
While you might be aware of Email Authentication Service there's another method fraudsters use to steal your personal data - and they don't need an internet connection to do it. Criminals are able to call you up and get you to give up information that could be used against you. This is known as Vishing, or voice phishing. Here are some tips from Get Safe Online on how to recognize Vishing and how to protect yourself.
Of course, it’s best to avoid becoming a cybersecurity awareness victim in the first place. But unfortunately, many phishing victims don’t realize what happened until it’s too late. They find out when their money is stolen or they can’t log into their accounts. If you do think you’ve fallen for a phishing scam but haven’t seen any consequences, you may still be able to protect yourself.
