What is a Phishing Attack?

In a time where we heavily rely on technology for almost everything, it is important to remain vigilant about its darker side – cybercrime. One of the most common threats we face online is phishing. In this blog, we’ll dive into what phishing is, how it works, the different types of phishing attacks, and most importantly – how to protect yourself from falling victim to these scams.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is the attempt to trick people into giving up personal information, usually through deceptive emails, messages, or websites. Attackers often pretend to be a legitimate source, such as a bank, government agency or a popular online service. They lure victims into providing sensitive data by making their requests appear urgent or important.

How Does Phishing Work?

Phishing works by creating a sense of urgency or trust. For example, you might receive an email that looks like it’s from your bank, asking you to verify your account details to avoid having your account suspended. The email will include a link to a fake website designed to look like the real one. Once you enter your information on the fake website, it goes straight to the cybercriminals, who can use it for malicious activities such as identity theft or financial fraud.

Phishing attacks are often carried out on a large scale. Attackers typically send out thousands or even millions of emails at a time, hoping that at least a few people will fall for the scam. While some phishing attempts are easy to spot, others are so sophisticated that they can trick even the most tech-savvy individuals.

Types of Phishing Attacks

Phishing can take many forms. Understanding the different types of attacks can help you recognise them when they occur.

1. Email Phishing

This is the most common type of phishing attack. It involves sending fake emails that appear to be from legitimate organisations. These emails often contain a link that directs you to a fake website where you’re asked to enter personal information. The website may look almost identical to the real one, making it difficult to recognise the phishing attempt.

2. Spear Phishing

Spear phishing is a more targeted form of attack. Instead of sending generic emails to thousands of people, the attackers focus on specific individuals or organisations. They often do research beforehand to make the email more convincing. For example, they might include your name, employer and other personal details in the phishing email, which makes it seem more legitimate.

3. Whaling

Whaling is spear phishing that targets high-profile individuals such as CEOs, business executives or government officials. These attacks are usually more sophisticated and aim to gain access to sensitive company information, classified government data or large sums of money.

4. Smishing

SMS phishing or smishing involves sending phishing messages via SMS or other messaging apps. The message usually contains a link or a phone number. The goal is the same as email phishing – to trick you into giving up your personal information. Smishing has become more common with the increasing use of smartphones for online transactions.

5. Vishing

Vishing (voice phishing) attackers make phone calls pretending to be from legitimate organisations, such as a bank or a government agency. They might ask you to confirm personal details or try to convince you that your account has a problem that needs immediate attention. Vishing is particularly dangerous because it can catch people off guard, especially if the caller sounds professional and convincing.

6. Clone Phishing

Clone phishing involves attackers cloning a legitimate, previously delivered email. They replace any existing attachments or links with malicious ones and resend the email, making it appear as though it’s from a trusted source. This can be very effective because the victim may have already received the original email, making them more likely to trust the cloned version.

7. Pharming

Pharming is a more technical form of phishing that involves redirecting users from a legitimate website to a fake one, even if they’ve entered the correct web address. This is often done by exploiting vulnerabilities in the domain name system (DNS) or through malware installed on a user’s device. Once on the fake site, users unknowingly enter their personal information, which the attackers then capture.

Why Phishing is So Dangerous

Phishing is dangerous because it preys on human emotions like fear, urgency and trust. The consequences of falling for a phishing attack can be severe, including:

• Financial Loss: If you provide your banking or credit card details, cybercriminals can steal money from your account or make fraudulent purchases.
• Identity Theft: Attackers can steal your identity by gaining access to your personal information and using it to apply for loans and credit cards or even committing crimes in your name.
• Loss of Sensitive Data: In the case of spear phishing or whaling attacks, cybercriminals can gain access to sensitive company information, leading to financial loss, reputational damage and possible legal consequences.
• Infection with Malware: Some phishing emails contain attachments or links that, when clicked, download malware onto your device. This malware can steal your data, monitor your activities or hold your files hostage (ransomware).

How to Identify Phishing Attempts

1. Suspicious Sender: It could be a phishing attempt if you receive an email from an unknown sender or the email address looks unusual (for example, a random string of numbers or letters).

2. Urgent Language: Phishing emails often use urgent or threatening language to scare you into taking action quickly. For example, they might claim that your account will be closed or your funds will be frozen if you don’t respond immediately.

3. Generic Greeting: Phishing emails often use generic greetings like “Dear Customer” or have no greeting. Legitimate companies will usually address you personally.

4. Unfamiliar Links: If an email contains a link, hover your mouse over it without clicking to see where it leads. Don’t click if the URL looks suspicious or doesn’t match the official website.

5. Attachments: Be wary of unsolicited attachments, especially from unknown senders. These could contain malware designed to infect your device.

6. Poor Grammar and Spelling: While phishing emails are becoming more sophisticated, some still contain obvious spelling or grammar mistakes. This often indicates that the email is not from a legitimate organisation.

How to Protect Yourself from Phishing

As mentioned earlier, phishing is a threat that can appear on desktops, laptops and mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. While most browsers have built-in tools to check if a link is safe, your best defence against phishing is staying informed and cautious. Learn to recognise the warning signs and practise safe computing whenever you check emails, browse social media or play online games.

Our cybersecurity experts share some key steps you can take to reduce risk:

• Avoid opening emails from unfamiliar senders, as they may contain malicious content.
• Never click on a link in an email unless you’re certain of its destination.
• Activate Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) where available to bolster security. Even if someone manages to steal your password, they’ll face additional hurdles to gain access.
• When prompted to enter sensitive information, ensure the URL begins with “HTTPS” instead of “HTTP.” The “S” stands for “secure,” indicating the connection between you and the destination is encrypted. Legitimate sites typically use HTTPS to enhance security.
• Check for a website’s digital certificate to verify its legitimacy.
• If you receive an email with a link that raises suspicion, don’t click the link. Instead, manually type the correct web address into your browser to avoid being directed to fraudulent sites.
• Hover your cursor over links to verify where they lead to before clicking on them.
• If you’re uncertain about the authenticity of an email, copy a name or phrase from the message and search for known phishing attempts using similar tactics.

What to Do if You Fall for a Phishing Scam

If you realise you’ve fallen for a phishing scam, it’s important to act quickly to minimise the damage:

1. Immediately change the passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised.

2. If you’ve provided financial information, contact your bank or credit card provider to alert them of the fraud. They may be able to freeze your account or reverse unauthorised transactions.

3. Keep a close eye on your bank accounts and credit reports for any unusual activity.

4. Report the phishing scam to the relevant authorities, such as the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) or Scamwatch.

How to Report Phishing in Outlook

Many businesses use Outlook as their primary email provider. This can make it a common target for phishing attacks. Fortunately, you can easily report phishing emails directly from your inbox, helping to prevent further attacks and improve security for everyone.

Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open the suspicious email, but don’t click on any links or download attachments.

2. In the Outlook toolbar, click the Junk dropdown menu.

3. Select Report Phishing.

Junk > Phishing > Report 

Final Thoughts – Stay Vigilant Against Phishing

Phishing is a growing threat that is becoming more sophisticated each day. However, staying informed and vigilant can protect yourself and your personal information. Always be cautious when receiving unexpected emails, double-check the source of any communication and never provide sensitive information unless you’re certain it’s legitimate.

How IT for Business Can Help You

Phishing can target various platforms, but email remains one of the primary modes. While many email providers work to block phishing attempts, some still slip through, highlighting the importance of strong email security. Protect your business from phishing scams with IT for Business. We offer security assessments, managed security services and cyber security training to help safeguard your company and equip your team to recognise and prevent cyber threats.

Contact IT for Business today to strengthen your defences and stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.