In 2023, India recorded over 79 million phishing attacks. It ranked 3rd position after the U.S. and U.K. The technology in India was most targeted, accounting for 33 percent of the phishing attacks observed in the country.
What is a Phishing Attack?
A Phishing Attack is a type of cyberattack that uses social engineering tactics to steal information from the victims. These attacks succeed because they trick users into opening suspicious links showing that it is from a well-recognized and reputable source and it leads to the Phishing Attack. It further steals, harms, and cripples the whole organization system.
Common Signs of Phishing Attack
Phishing attacks can come in various ways. It can be fake phone calls, emails, etc. But here are some common signs of a phishing attack that you should never avoid:
- Gathering sensitive, personal information and login credentials.
- Emails that are disguised with the tone of emergency so that it looks like it is important.
- Messages or emails have spelling or grammar mistakes.
- Suspicious links that look reliable and once you click it your data gets breached.
- Receiving offers like once in a lifetime, basically spam emails and messages.
7 Types of Phishing Attacks That Can Affect Your Organisation:
- Spear Phishing Attack – Spear phishing means targeting specific individuals, of a business to steal their login credentials. They trick users into believing that the link is from a trustworthy source and after the user clicks the link, they attack the system and steal the information
- HTTPS Phishing Attack – HTTPS or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure phishing is a URL-based attack that attempts to trick users into clicking the link. The standard protocol for traffic encryption between browsers and websites is HTTPS. In the past, it was easier to identify these but with the advancements in technology, it has become difficult to do so.
- Email Phishing Attack- Email Phishing is one of the most common, preferred, and used types of Phishing Attacks by attackers. Most attempts of attacks happen by pretending to come from a recognized and trustworthy source.
- Whaling Attack- Whaling is, the process of targeting high-level executives like CEOs, etc. Whaling Attacks are typically much more about deep research about the company and even it grabs information from social media accounts.
- Business Email Compromise Attack – There is a marginal difference between Whaling and Business Email Compromise attacks i.e. as we read above whaling targets the executive, while Business Email Compromise impersonates them. The attackers would impersonate or gain access to the executive’s account with all the decision-making authority and send requests to employees.
- Clone Phishing Attack- Instead of sending fake emails, clone phishing uses real emails sent by an individual or company, copies them, and resends them with corrupted attachments.
- Watering Hole Phishing Attack – This is a type of tactic that targets a particular company by infecting the website they visit. The attackers deeply research for any broken link and exploit it by infecting the site with malware and users as bait by sending them emails directly from the site.
Prevent yourself from a Phishing Attack! Here’s how?
- If the third party ( attackers ) asks for personal information or login credentials, never respond to that request because if you do you would be giving access to them to steal and misuse your information.
- Even if you believe the request is legitimate. Before reacting or taking action contact the support team for cross-checking.
- If you get a call and the person claims to be a part of your organization or is at any legitimate post and asks for the password, never disclose it and block the contact immediately.
How to identify the phishing attacks?
- When it asks to provide personal and sensitive information along with login credentials.
- When you sense there is urgency in the emails. It can be both legitimate and fake, so take action wisely.
- When the link seems suspicious don’t take the risk of clicking it.
- When you get emails like, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you will lose it”.
What To Do If You Fall As a Phishing Attack Victim?
Sometimes even after taking precautions some organizations fall victim to the phishing attack. So what to do at this time?
- The primary step is to disconnect from the internet so that malware stops from spreading ahead.
- Contact the cybersecurity team and look for any deviation, if any.
- Monitor the accounts that were affected because of the attack. Also, secure the accounts that could get affected.
- Train your staff frequently to identify the attacks and be ready with all the precautions.
- Practice robust cybersecurity practices to prevent as many attacks as you can and be updated with the changing environment.
Some examples of Famous Phishing Attack Scams
- The Google Phishing Scam – In 2017, Google was targeted by a refined phishing trick that fooled representatives into giving access to their records. Attackers imitated authentic administrations, utilizing this trust to penetrate Google’s frameworks. The incident featured the basic significance of network protection training and the execution of cutting-edge security conventions to prevent similar breaches. This scam likewise showed the refinement of phishing methods, fit for misdirecting even the most educated people. The fallout of this assault prompted critical upgrades in Google’s safety efforts, showing the benefit of gaining from online protection disappointment.
- The LinkedIn Phishing Attack – LinkedIn clients were targeted in 2016 with messages that firmly looked like authority correspondences from the platform. These phishing attempts are intended to catch login accreditations, prompting unapproved access to sensitive individual and expert data. This attack fills in as an obvious sign of the requirement for continuous client training on the risks of phishing and the significance of checking the credibility of messages. It likewise ignited a more extensive conversation about the obligation of social media platforms to protect their clients from digital dangers. LinkedIn’s reaction to this incident included upgrading its security elements and client schooling programs, featuring the continuous fight against phishing tricks.
- The Twitter Bitcoin Scam ( 2020 )- In 2020, Twitter confronted a significant security breach when high-profile accounts were seized to promote a Bitcoin trick. This attack, worked with by social engineering, uncovered weaknesses in Twitter’s security framework and featured the requirement for progressing security upgrades to safeguard against complex digital dangers. The attack brought about quick monetary misfortunes as well as harmed Twitter’s standing and trust among its clients. It highlighted the significance of strong access controls and the requirement for constant cautiousness and preparation for all clients, particularly those with critical impact via web-based entertainment stages.