How to Recognize and Prevent Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are the most common cyber threat facing individuals and businesses today. These sophisticated scams trick people into revealing sensitive information, clicking malicious links, or downloading malware. Learn how to spot and prevent these attacks.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a type of social engineering attack where criminals impersonate trusted entities to manipulate victims. The goal is usually to:

• Steal login credentials
• Obtain financial information
• Install malware on your device
• Gain access to corporate networks

Types of Phishing Attacks

Email Phishing

Mass emails impersonating banks, tech companies, or other organizations. These are the most common and cast a wide net.

Spear Phishing

Targeted attacks using personal information to create convincing, personalized messages aimed at specific individuals.

Whaling

High-profile spear phishing targeting executives and senior management.

Business Email Compromise (BEC)

Attackers impersonate executives or vendors to trick employees into transferring money or revealing sensitive data.

Red Flags to Watch For

Other Warning Signs

• Urgency: "Your account will be closed in 24 hours!"
• Generic greetings: "Dear Customer" instead of your name
• Spelling/grammar errors: Legitimate companies proofread
• Suspicious links: Hover to see the real destination
• Unexpected attachments: Especially .exe, .zip, or Office files with macros
• Requests for sensitive info: Banks never ask for passwords via email
• Too good to be true: "You've won $1,000,000!"

How to Verify Suspicious Emails

1. Check the sender: Look at the full email address, not the display name
2. Hover over links: See where they actually go before clicking
3. Go direct: Instead of clicking links, go to the website directly by typing the URL
4. Call them: Use a phone number from the official website, not the email
5. Check for HTTPS: Legitimate sites use HTTPS, but so do some phishing sites now

What to Do If You Receive a Phishing Email

1. Don't click: Avoid any links or attachments
2. Report it: Forward to your IT department or the impersonated company
3. Delete it: Remove from your inbox and trash
4. Mark as spam: Help train your email filter

What to Do If You Fell for Phishing

Act fast if you clicked a link or entered information:

1. Change passwords: Immediately change the compromised account password
2. Enable 2FA: Add two-factor authentication if not already enabled
3. Check for damage: Review account activity for unauthorized access
4. Contact your bank: If financial info was compromised
5. Scan for malware: Run a full system scan
6. Report the incident: Notify IT and relevant authorities

Technical Protections

For Individuals

• Use email providers with good spam filtering
• Enable two-factor authentication everywhere
• Keep software and browsers updated
• Use a password manager for unique passwords
• Be skeptical of all unexpected emails

For Organizations

• Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
• Deploy AI-powered email security
• Conduct regular phishing simulations
• Train employees on security awareness
• Implement email filtering and sandboxing

Stay Vigilant

Phishing attacks are constantly evolving. The best defense is a combination of technical protections and human awareness. When in doubt, verify through a separate channel before taking action on any email request.