Phishing emails are one of the most common – and most dangerous – forms a cyber-attack can take. With just one click, your data and accounts can be compromised. The cost? Anything from hours of downtime to millions of dollars, depending on how soon you notice. Detecting a phishing attack seem simple enough, but in the face of advanced AI and deep fake technology, spotting a scam is harder than ever.
So how can you protect your data from these threats? And what happens if you open a phishing email?
Phishing Scams Explained
Phishing is a type of social engineering attack where threat actors send fraudulent emails, text messages (smishing), or phone calls (vishing) impersonating a trusted entity. They may pretend to be a supervisor, government agency, bank, or third-party vendor. Typically, the objective is one of the following:
- Stealing Login Credentials: Directing users to fake login pages that capture usernames and passwords – or better yet, obtaining this information straight from the source.
- Installing Malware: Attaching malicious files or links that, when interacted with, infect the user’s device.
They will then use this to launch further attacks.
Common Warning Signs
If possible, it is always better to avoid a phishing attack in the first place. While modern technologies make them more convincing each day, there are some common tactics that email scams always rely on:
1. Spoofed Email Addresses
To appear as convincing as possible, threat actors create email addresses that closely resemble those of trusted senders. Any disparities are often extremely difficult to spot. For example, instead of “support@company.com”, the address may read “support.@company.com”.
2. Urgency and Fear Tactics
The last thing a scammer wants is for their victim to think the situation through. For that reason, they almost always attempt to induce powerful emotions such as fear, and a sense of urgency. They may use messaging such as “Your account has been suspended” or “Immediate action required” to make users act on impulse.
3. Fake Login Pages
A common strategy involves directing victims to a fake website that looks identical to a legitimate login page. When users enter their credentials, this information is sent directly to the scammers.
4. Malicious Attachments
Phishing emails often contain attachments disguised as invoices, receipts, or security updates. These files may contain malware that steals data, monitors keystrokes, or locks files.
There are a few ways to detect and prevent these attacks early:
- Always independently verify information, instead of blindly trusting an email.
- Check URLs and email addresses carefully.
- Do not click links or open attachments that you don’t recognize – even if they appear to be coming from a legitimate entity.
- Never act while in a state of heightened emotion, and be wary of emails that use frightening or emotive language.
What Happens if You Open a Phishing Email?
In most cases, simply opening a phishing email will not harm your device, data, or business. The danger comes if you interact with its contents in some way, whether you drafted a response or clicked on a link. If you have fallen for a scam, you may notice some troubling signs:
- Devices may begin to show evidence of malware or viruses, such as running slower, crashing, or carrying out certain actions autonomously.
- Accounts might show strange activity, such as unusual fund transfers.
- Important files could suddenly vanish or be encrypted.
If you notice any of these signs, it is essential to stay calm and act swiftly.
I Accidentally Opened a Phishing Email - What Can I Do?
If you open an email and then realize it is a phishing scam, follow these steps:
- Do not interact with any links, attachments, or requests for information.
- Close the email and mark it as spam.
- Scan your device for malware and viruses.
- If you believe you may have entered credentials on a phishing site, change any compromised passwords immediately and enable multifactor authentication (MFA).
- Inform your IT or security team of the potential threat, as well as any other staff who may have received it.
Worried that your cloud services might be compromised? Speak to a consultant
What to Do if You Click on a Phishing Link
If you have already clicked on a phishing link or downloaded an attachment, you must act quickly:
- Disconnect from the internet and any company networks. This will help prevent any malware from spreading to new devices.
- Do not enter any sensitive information. If you have been taken to a form or login page, avoid submitting any details.
- Scan the device for potential threats.
- Clear your browser cache and cookies. Some threat actors will attempt to steal these for their own use.
- Monitor all accounts for suspicious activity.
How to Recover From a Phishing Attack
You or other staff may fall victim to the occasional phishing scam despite everyone’s best efforts. In that case, take these steps in addition to the others listed above:
- Carry out your incident response plan, if applicable.
- Reset all affected accounts.
- If payment information was compromised, notify banks and credit card providers to monitor transactions.
- Report the attack to all appropriate authorities, including the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Team up with cybersecurity experts to mitigate the damage and remove the threat.
Prevention Strategies for the Future
Some simple strategies can help reduce the likelihood of a successful phishing scam, protecting your business in the future:
- Awareness Training: Teach employees how to handle phishing emails, and what signs to look for. Awareness is your best defense against social engineering attacks of all kinds.
- Use the Principle of Least Privilege: Adjust account permissions. Employees should only be able to access the bare minimum necessary for their roles.
- Implement Email Filters: Most email providers offer built-in security solutions, such as filters, that help keep scams out of inboxes.
- Improve Security Measures: Implement cybersecurity best practices to protect your business from all threats.
- Password Managers: These allow staff to use stronger passwords without forgetting them, preventing reuse and limiting the amount of harm stolen credentials can cause.
Learn about some important data security measures in Microsoft 365
Keep Your Business Safe With Advanced Security Solutions
Phishing attacks are common, and extremely convincing – but they are not impossible to stop. By watching closely, you can easily identify common patterns and spot these threats a mile away. In the worst-case scenario, knowing how to handle phishing emails can mean the difference between a minor disruption and a major threat.
Stopping cyber threats is an endless, exhausting process – and if you’re not careful, it could waste countless necessary hours. ION247 handles security for you, protecting your business so you can focus on running it. If you’re ready to learn how our advanced solutions stop modern threats, get a quote now.
