As a business owner, you have plenty of tasks on your plate to handle to run your business. The last thing you need is a security breach caused by phishing. The best way to prevent this cybersecurity attack is to educate yourself and your employees on what phishing is and how you can avoid it.
At CMIT Solutions of Pittsburgh South, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to help you understand what phishing is and how you can protect your company from it with Cybersecurity.
What is Phishing and How to Recognize it
Cybercriminals have taken to infiltrating emails and even text messages to try and trick people into divulging their personal information such as passwords, account numbers, social security numbers, and more. If these scammers are successful in obtaining this information, they can gain access to your bank accounts, emails, and other accounts where sensitive information is stored.
Phishing emails and text messages most commonly appear to come from a company you know, such as your bank, credit card company, or online store. Most often, the phishing email or text will tell a story that is used to help convince you to click on a link or open an attachment. Common phishing attacks will use stories such as:
- They noticed suspicious logins or activity on your account.
- Claim that there is an issue with your payment information, and you need to update it.
- Attach a fake invoice to the message.
- Offer you a discount or coupon for free stuff in exchange for information.
At a glance, these phishing emails will appear real and look like they are from a trusted company, but clicking any links or downloading any attachments from these emails can have serious consequences. Some signs that the email is a scam include:
- A generic greeting is used.
- Grammar or spelling errors are present.
- Threats or a sense of urgency in the tone of the email.
- Inconsistences in the links, domain names, or email addresses.
- Contains requests for payment information, credentials, or other personal information.
How to Tell if Your Email Link is Safe
There are a few things you can look for to determine if your email is safe, including:
- Check the greeting. Most scam emails will begin with a more informal greeting such as Dear User rather than addressing you by name.
- Check the email address. Look at the complete email address and information of the sender. You can click on “display full header” to view the entire email address.
- Look out for verifications. Many scams will try to get you to divulge your details, such as a bank account number, through fake verification requests.
If you receive an email you are unsure about, be sure to contact the company or person it is coming from directly to confirm they are the ones who actually sent it. Do not use the contact information in the email. Go to the company site for the correct contact information.
Common Email Scams
Cybercriminals can get very creative when trying to steal your information. There are a variety of scams they use, but these are some of the most common:
- Online credit card or banking – These emails typically say, “Act now or your account will be deactivated” or “Security breach on your account.” This is done to create a sense of urgency. The criminal hopes you will have a knee-jerk reaction to click on the link they have provided and log into your account to fix the issue.
- Survey scams – These are phishing emails that contain surveys based on your interests to tempt you to take the survey. Clicking on the link to the survey can lead to spyware or other malicious software being installed on your computer, allowing cybercriminals to track your activity and steal your information. Many times these techniques are used to gather personal information about you that can be utilized in a later attack.
- Foreign lottery scam – These emails appear to come from a foreign lottery corporation claiming you won a monetary prize. They will typically ask for information such as your date of birth, full name, address, etc., which can be used to steal your identity or drain or bank account.
What to do if Someone Replied to a Phishing Email
If you receive an email or a text message that is prompting you to open an attachment or click a link, ask yourself, “Do I know the person contacting me, or do I have an account with this company?”
If the answer to this question is “no,” then the email could be a phishing scam. Review the tips above for how to identify a phishing scam and look for the signs. If the email contains signs of phishing, you will need to report the message and then delete it.
If you answer “yes” to either question, then you should contact the company directly through their real phone number or website to confirm.
Call a Cybersecurity Expert Immediately
If you are receiving a lot of phishing emails, it is critical to contact a cybersecurity expert immediately. They can assist you with protecting your company against phishing attacks and can also assist you with damage control if you have responded to a phishing email, clicked on a harmful link, or downloaded an attachment from a phishing scam.
How to Protect Yourself Against Phishing Attacks
At CMIT Solutions of Pittsburgh South, our multi-layered cybersecurity protection can protect your company’s data against 13 different types of attacks. We will work with you to assess your cybersecurity exposure, remediate security risks, and manage your cybersecurity defenses daily for ultimate protection. Contact us today to learn more!