Protect Yourself
Understanding and Defeating Phishing Attacks

What is Phishing? Understanding the Cyber Threat

Phishing is a prevalent cyber threat where scammers impersonate trusted sources to steal your sensitive data. Every year, billions of phishing links are shared, leading to malware infections, financial loss, and identity theft.

Protecting yourself starts with understanding how phishing works. This guide provides you with the knowledge to identify phishing attempts and defend yourself against these malicious attacks.

How Does Phishing Work? The Anatomy of an Attack

Phishing attacks typically follow a multi-step process. The attacker selects a target (individual, group, or organization) and devises a deceptive plan.

They then choose a communication method (email, social media, or text) and make contact. If successful, the target engages by replying, opening a link, or downloading an attachment.

Finally, phishers collect the data to make illegal purchases or commit identity theft.

Common Types of Phishing Attacks

Phishing scams come in various forms. Here are some prevalent link-based phishing attacks:

• Email Phishing: Fraudsters impersonate legitimate companies to trick you into downloading malware or entering information on unsafe websites.

• Spear Phishing: Attacks target a specific individual, business, or organization using research and building a credible persona.

• Clone Phishing: Scammers create near-identical versions of legitimate emails, changing the links or attachments to malicious ones.

• Whaling: Attacks target high-ranking executives to steal sensitive corporate data.

• Pop-up Phishing: Scare tactics are used in pop-up ads to trick users into installing malware.

Phishing Techniques Used by Attackers

To increase their chances of success, phishers utilize various techniques:

• Social Engineering: Manipulating individuals to divulge sensitive information.

• Hyperlink Manipulation: Disguising malicious links behind legitimate-looking URLs.

• Graphical Rendering: Using images instead of text to bypass phishing filters.

• Site Redirects: Using a malicious webpage to collect your info before redirecting to a legitimate site.

• Link Shortening: Disguising dangerous websites with link shorteners.

• Typosquatting: Creating domains that are similar to legitimate ones.

• AI Voice Generators & Chatbots: Impersonating public figures or acquaintances, often using AI-powered tools to create convincing messages.

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"The most notable increase in brands imitated for phishing purposes was observed with Wix, which saw an astounding 2840% rise... This spike indicates a new focus on exploiting website-building platforms."

Alexej Savčin, Associate Manager

Warning Signs of a Phishing Attack

Recognizing the signs of phishing attacks is crucial. Be wary of:

• Suspicious Sender Addresses: Unfamiliar or spoofed email addresses.

• Urgent Tone: Demanding immediate action or threatening consequences.

• Generic Greetings: Emails that don't address you by name.

• Poor Grammar and Spelling: Grammatical errors or typos.

• Unusual Attachments or Links: Attachments you weren’t expecting and links that look suspicious.

If You Clicked What to Do a Phishing Link

If you’ve clicked a phishing link, take immediate action:

• Stop Interacting: Cease communication with the attacker and close the spoofed website.

• Secure Your Device: Run a full system scan with reliable antivirus software (like Norton 360 Deluxe).

• Change Passwords: Immediately change passwords for all potentially compromised accounts.

• Monitor Accounts: Regularly check your financial and other accounts for any unauthorized activity or fraudulent charges.

• Report the Incident: Report the phishing attempt to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the targeted organization or company.