Phishing is one of the most common and effective cybersecurity attack vectors, accounting for roughly a quarter of all ransomware attacks between 2019 and 2021, according to research from Cloudian. As businesses settle into permanent hybrid and virtual work environments in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting sensitive data from phishing attacks is top of the agenda for many executives. Show
What is phishing and how can it impact your organization?Phishing is a type of cybersecurity attack that usually involves malicious actors sending fraudulent emails disguised as sources familiar to the target in an effort to steal sensitive data, like account information, login credentials, personal details and more. Phishing emails typically contain malicious links, attachments or downloads, which serve as a vehicle to infect the host system with malware. However, phishing can also be as simple as the attacker soliciting personal information directly from the recipient, making it seem as though the request is coming from a trustworthy source. A single, successful phishing attack can have lasting consequences for an organization. These include:
All of the above effects are enough to severely impact an organization. However, combined with the costs of repairing customer relationships and recouping financial losses, it’s possible for businesses to shut down permanently after a successful phishing scam. IBM found that the average cost of a data breach in 2021 was $4.24 million, a 10% increase over the previous year. The same IBM research found that the average time to detection for a breach was 287 days, and that the country with the highest data breach cost was the United States with an average cost of $9.05 million. The different types of phishing attacksHackers use different types of phishing depending on their intended target and the quality of data they hope to exfiltrate. The four major types of phishing attacks are:
The 5 common indicators of a phishing attemptPhishing emails are effective because they seem real and can be difficult to spot. However, there are a few common signs that users should know to detect fraudulent emails. Here are the 5 common indicators of a phishing attempt: 1. Spelling errors: Of course, everyone makes a spelling or grammar mistake from time to time, but phishing attempts are often riddled with them. If an email in your inbox contains multiple indicators on this list and is also riddled with unusual spelling and grammatical errors, it’s probably a scam. 2. Unusual requests: If you don’t usually interact with your CEO on a regular basis and you suddenly receive an urgent email from them asking you to complete a seemingly mundane task (like sending them your phone number), that’s likely the sign of an illegitimate request from a malicious actor. 3. Strange email content: A phishing email might contain content that is inconsistent with your understanding of the relationship with the supposed sender. For example, your sender might introduce themselves in the email, despite claiming to be someone with whom you already have an established relationship. 4. Personal information solicitation: Most companies (and supervisors and managers, for that matter), understand that email can be unsecure, so they almost never use it to ask for personal information. An email containing a request for sensitive information (i.e., date of birth, home address, phone number, etc.) is probably an attempt to steal your data. 5. Unfamiliar email addresses: If one or more of the other indicators on this list are present but you’re still unsure, take a look at the email address of the sender. If it looks real (that is, if it’s a legitimate company email address), then you might be safe. If you know the email address doesn’t match that of the sender, it’s probably a phishing attempt. Steps you can take to keep your data protected from phishing attacksThere are a number of steps organizations can (and should) take to protect their sensitive data from phishing attacks. Because phishing attacks often take place via email, proper anti-phishing training for employees is one of the most effective ways to prevent a security breach. Employees should take caution before clicking any links or downloading attachments they receive over email, making sure they are certain they know who the sender is before taking action. However, according to research from Cloudian, 65% of companies that reported phishing attacks had conducted anti-phishing training for employees, meaning organizations need to implement a more comprehensive set of cybersecurity controls that go beyond employee training. It’s critical that companies conduct routine monitoring of their entire security infrastructure to identify possible security vulnerabilities and patch them as soon as they are detected. It’s also important to reevaluate their governance policies on a regular basis and update them to reflect emerging threats. Investing in the latest anti-malware software can help organizations strengthen their cybersecurity posture by detecting security breaches and automating incident response. Protect your data from all types of cybersecurity attacksIt’s becoming more important than ever to identify cybersecurity attempts and keep hackers at bay. Alert Logic’s team of high-touch security experts supplies organizations with the tools, knowledge and expertise they need for 24/7 protection of their sensitive information, while also customizing response plans in case the worst does happen. Request a demo today to get started. What is a common indicator of a phishing attempt Cyber Awareness 2022?The most common indicators of a phishing attempt usually involve tone, grammar and urgency in an email message and subject line.
What is the common indicator of a phishing attempt quizlet?What is a common indicator of a phishing attempt? It includes a threat of dire circumstances.
What is a common indicator of a phishing attempt navy?A common indicator of a phishing attempt is a suspicious attachment. The bad guys often use phishing emails to send these attachments because they know many people are curious enough to open them and click on whatever links or buttons they contain. These attachments may be a Word document or zip file, for example.
What is true of a phishing attempt?Phishing is a type of social engineering attack often used to steal user data, including login credentials and credit card numbers. It occurs when an attacker, masquerading as a trusted entity, dupes a victim into opening an email, instant message, or text message.
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