Phishing Attack: Meaning and Safety Tips

Phishing attacks, basically a cyber-attack carried out to steal vital information from an unsuspecting individual, are growing globally posing a major threat to security and networking systems. 

This fraudulent attempt is made through email by hiding the real identity of a phishing attacker and posing as a creditworthy or notable entity. The digital communication is done by them in such a way that people fall prey to them and open the email to allow ransomware to get installed in their system. 

How Phishing Attacks are carried out?

It is carried out in a very intelligent way. 

We are explaining below five such fraudulent ways of phishing:   

Digital Communication or Email: 

You receive emails with catchy headlines in the subject space. But they are scams. Once opened, your system will automatically install the ransomware.  

Receiving Fake Bank Notices: 

You may receive such mail (apparently) from your bank or financial institution. It will give a link and ask you to click it. On clicking it, all information is stolen. 

False Communication: 

Under this phishing modus operandi, you may be asked to give your confidential information on a website or site which is a scam. By the time you understand that you have fallen victim, your vital and confidential information is all gone. 

Malware Downloading: 

This method is often used all across the world including the US. Malware is pushed into your system through different ways of deception like free coupons for restaurants or similar lucrative offers. Once you click it, your system will automatically start downloading malware. 

Advanced Persistent Threat or APTs: 

Often phishing against a particular company is carried out through APTs. Under the APTs, attacks are made to steal information about the employees of a particular company, including employee details, login IDs, and other individual details. 

Besides the above methods, scammers use many other techniques to steal data from an individual and companies. They invent newer methods to carry out phishing. Now that you know how phishing takes place, it is time to know how to prevent it. 

Phishing Attack: Top Safety Tips 

A growing number of cases of phishing necessitates that you and your company adopt anti-phishing methods to foil any intrusion into your and your company’s systems. 

We are explaining below five safety tips against phishing attacks:

Consolidate Corporate Networking System: 

This can provide safety to your system. The networking specialists are trained in using different digital and technical know-how to foil fishing. The application of network security technologies is one of the best methods to stop phishing. 

Identify Scam Emails:

This is an important tip for you to stop phishing. You require proper guidance in identifying such emails and deleting them without opening them. Even if you find innocuous-looking emails apparently having been sent by a reputable company or even in a bank’s name, you must question yourself why you should receive such mail as you have not contacted them. This can foil intrusion into your system. 

Firewall Installation: 

This can be greatly helpful for a corporate company or sales organization to stop phishing attacks. You should always install both desktop firewalls and network firewalls to foil any intrusion into your corporate system. Acting as a shield between your computer and the phishing attacker, a firewall would not permit any intrusion or hacking attempt. 

Create a Data Security Platform: 

If you have an independent data security platform, you can prevent any attempt to hack your computer. As a data security platform that can identify scam mail, it can alert you about it. you can subsequently delete it. This platform will alert you and your corporate team about anomalous and scam mail and warn you about those emails.

Guard Yourself Against Pop-Ups: 

Most of the pop-ups are malicious. They can intrude on your system and steal away your data and confidential personal information. There is pop-up blocker software that you should install in your system for your own safety.    

What the Latest Research Say About the Danger of Phishing 

Forbes Advisor, quoting the Internet Crimes Report of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reveals that in the US, there were 300,497 phishing victims with a total loss of $52,089,159 in 2022. The FBI statistics also showed most affected regions of 

the US. It runs as:

• Nevada: most affected state

• Kansas: least affected state

• Arkansas: suffered the largest financial losses amounting to $ 80,000 

• Delaware: largest increase since 2018 with a 71% increase

• Wisconsin: one of the largest victims of phishing since 2018 with a 38% increase

  

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• District of Columbia: highest number of phishing victims per capita in the US with 25 victims per 100,000 residents. 

In Conclusion

Phishing attacks pose a maximum threat to the users of credit and debit cards. The process of malware installation in a victim’s system or PC is so intelligent and sophisticated that they hardly realize they have fallen victim to a phishing attack. The realization comes only when their credit and debit cards are used for fraudulent purposes. 

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

i. How can you describe a phishing attack? 

A phishing attack involves social engineering to steal data, login credentials, and credit card numbers.

ii. How is phishing done?

Phishing is executed cunningly by posing as a friend or entity, inducing the victim to click a link leading to the installation of malware.

iii. Can Phishing ransomware disable or freeze a network system?

Yes, it can. Clicking on malicious ransomware can lead to automatic installation and subsequent freezing or disabling of the system.

iv. What are the dangers of Phishing attacks?

Phishing exposes individuals to various troubles, including the use of credit card numbers for unauthorized purchases, illegal money transfers, and identity theft.

v. What is an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) in phishing?

APT in phishing involves gaining privileged access to secured data related to the workplace, bypassing security perimeters to access secured data