Phishing attacks are one of the most prevalent security concerns that both individuals and businesses face when it comes to protecting their information.
Hackers are exploiting phishing emails, social media, phone calls, and every other means of contact they can to steal important data, whether it’s passwords, credit cards, or other sensitive information.
Phishing attacks increased dramatically in the first quarter of 2022. CheckPoint reported in their 2022 Q1 Brand Phishing Report that phishing attacks imitating professional social networking sites accounted for more than half (52%) of all worldwide attempts in the first quarter of 2022.
What exactly is a phishing attack?
A phishing attack is a sort of social engineering attack that is frequently used to acquire user information such as login passwords and credit card details.
It happens when a phishing attacker poses as a trustworthy entity and tricks the victim into opening a phishing email, instant message, or text message.
The receiver is subsequently tricked into clicking a malicious phishing email link, which can result in malware installation, system freezing as part of a ransomware assault, or the disclosure of sensitive information.
Employees are compromised by phishing emails in this scenario, in order to circumvent security perimeters, propagate malware within a closed environment, or get privileged access to guarded data.
An organization that is the victim of such a phishing attack often suffers serious financial losses as well as a loss of market share, reputation, and customer confidence.
Depending on the scale, a phishing attempt might turn into a security disaster from which a company would struggle to recover.
How to avoid and reduce phishing attacks
Taking preventive measures is important, and teaching the staff is also important. Here are a few things one can do to reduce phishing attacks.
1# Don’t give your personal information to an unprotected website.
Do not enter sensitive information or download files from a website if the URL does not begin with “https” or if there is no closed padlock icon next to the URL.
Sites without security certification may not be meant for phishing schemes, but it is always better to be safe than sorry.
2# Understand what a phishing scheme looks like.
New phishing attack tactics are always being created, but they all have characteristics that may be spotted if you know what to look for.
There are several websites that will keep you up to date on the latest phishing assaults and their essential identifiers.
The sooner you learn about the latest phishing attack tactics and share them with your users through frequent phishing security awareness training, the more probable it is that you will avert a possible assault.
3# Please do not click on a phishing email link.
Even if one knows the sender, it’s not a good idea to click on a link in an email or instant message.
The very least you should do is hover over the link to verify whether the destination is right.
Some phishing email attempts are rather clever, with the destination URL appearing to be a carbon clone of the legitimate site, set up to capture phishing keystrokes or collect login/credit card information.
4# Get anti-phishing add-ons for free.
Most browsers now allow you to download add-ons that detect phishing websites or warn you of known phishing sites.
They are often free, so there is no reason not to have them installed on every device in your firm.
5# Regularly change passwords.
If one has online accounts, one should get into the practice of changing the passwords on a regular basis to prevent a phishing attacker from acquiring unrestricted access.
Since the accounts may have been hijacked without the users’ knowledge, adding an extra layer of security through password rotation will help prevent continued phishing attacks and keep potential attackers out.
6# Don’t disregard those updates.
Security patches and updates are published for a reason, usually to stay up with contemporary phishing and cyber-attack tactics by addressing security gaps.
If a user does not upgrade his browser, he may be vulnerable to phishing attempts exploiting known flaws that might have been easily prevented.
7# Don’t be fooled by those pop-ups.
Pop-ups are not only annoying; they are frequently associated with malware as part of attempted phishing attacks.
Most browsers now let you download and install free ad-blocking software, which will automatically block the majority of dangerous pop-ups.
8# Set up firewalls.
Firewalls are an efficient method of preventing external assaults because they operate as a barrier between your computer and a phishing attacker.
When used in tandem, desktop and network firewalls may improve security and lower the likelihood of a hacker penetrating a phishing attack.
9# If possible, avoid disclosing sensitive information.
As a general guideline, unless you are completely confident in the site, you should not freely provide your credit card information.
Sometimes phishing attackers make copies of the original website. If you must disclose your information, be certain that the website is authentic, the firm is legitimate, and the site itself is safe.
10# Detect signs of an attack by using a data security solution.
If one is unlucky enough to be the victim of a successful phishing attempt, it is critical that you recognize and respond quickly.
A data security solution like Acronis Cyber Protect reduces the stress on the IT/Security team by automatically alerting them to unusual user behavior and unlawful file alterations.
If a phishing attacker gains access to your sensitive data, a data security solution can assist you in identifying the impacted account by a phishing attack or any attack so that you can take appropriate action to prevent additional harm.
Conclusion
If a user clicks on a phishing link and their account begins to display strange activity, Acronis Cyber Security’s automatic threat response solution can identify and respond in real-time.
Taking extra measures to prevent phishing attacks is necessary, and having a security solution like Acronis Cyber Security from Exabytes that looks after your organization’s security is crucial.
To prevent phishing attacks and get guidance from our experts, contact an Exabytes expert now.
Acronis Cyber Protection
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