What is Phishing Attack in Cyber Security
Did you know that a study in the year 2022 examined billions of link-based URLs, attachments, and messages in email, mobile, and browser channels over a period of six months? The study revealed a staggering 255 million phishing attacks, representing a 61% increase in the rate of such attacks as compared to the previous year.
Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important in today’s digital world. With more and more people using the internet for personal and professional purposes, the threat of cyber attacks is also increasing. In this blog, we will discuss what is phishing attack in cyber security, phishing techniques in cybersecurity, and how to protect yourself from these attacks.
Introduction to Phishing Attacks
Now let’s define phishing, it is one of the types of cyber attacks where an attacker tries to obtain sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal information, by disguising it as a trustworthy entity in electronic communication. The attacker may use various tactics to gain the victim’s trust, such as posing as a legitimate organization or using social engineering techniques.
Phishing attacks in cyber security are typically carried out through email, but they can also occur through social media, messaging apps, and even phone calls. The goal of the attacker is to trick the victim into clicking on a link or opening an attachment that contains malware, which can then be used to steal sensitive information. These attacks can result in significant financial losses, identity theft, and other serious consequences.
Types of Phishing Attacks in Cyber Security
In a phishing attack, cybercriminals use one or more phishing techniques to try and trick the victim into giving up their sensitive information. Some of the most common phishing attacks are:
Deceptive Phishing
This is the most common type of phishing attack where attackers send emails that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or an online retailer. The links in the email lead to fake websites that ask for sensitive information like login credentials or credit card information.
Spear Phishing
Spear phishing is a targeted form of phishing attack where attackers research their victims and create emails that are customized to the victim’s interests, work positions, or hobbies. These emails appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a colleague or friend and may contain a link or attachment that leads to a malicious website or malware.
Pharming
In pharming attacks, attackers redirect victims to a fake website even if the victim enters the legitimate website address in their browser. The attackers do this by altering the DNS records of the website. Victims are prompted to enter sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card numbers, which are then sent to the attacker.
Email Phishing
Email phishing is a type of phishing attack in which attackers send fraudulent emails that appear to come from a legitimate source, such as a bank, social media platform, or e-commerce website. These emails often ask the recipient to provide sensitive information, such as login credentials, credit card numbers, or social security numbers. The email may also contain a link to a fake website that looks like a legitimate site but is designed to steal the victim’s information.
Image-Based Phishing
Image-based phishing attacks use images instead of text to deceive the victim. The image may contain a hyperlink or a phone number that, when clicked or called, takes the victim to a fake website or phone line designed to steal their information. These images may appear in emails, social media posts, or advertisements.
Website Spoofing
In this attack, attackers create a fake website that looks like a legitimate one in order to trick victims into entering their login credentials or other sensitive information. The website may have a similar domain name or URL as the legitimate site and may use logos or other branding to make it appear more convincing.
Angler Phishing
This targets specific individuals or organizations through social engineering techniques. The attacker may gather information about the victim from social media or other sources in order to create a personalized message that appears from a trusted source. The message may ask the victim to provide sensitive information or click on a link to a fake website.
Social Media Phishing
Social media phishing uses social media platforms, such as Facebook or Twitter, to trick victims into providing sensitive information or downloading malware. Attackers may create fake social media accounts that appear to belong to a legitimate organization or individual in order to gain the victim’s trust.
Phishing Techniques in Cyber Security
These attacks can be devastating to individuals and organizations alike. It is essential to stay vigilant and educate yourself on the latest phishing techniques to protect against such attacks. Here are some common phishing techniques that are used immensely in cybersecurity.
Smishing
The smishing technique uses SMS or text messages to target users. Attackers send messages with links to fake websites or ask for sensitive information like account details or passwords via text.
Vishing:
This technique uses voice calls to target users. Attackers pretend to be a trusted entity, like a bank or credit card company and ask for sensitive information like account details or passwords over the phone.
Whaling
Whaling is a form of spear phishing that targets high-level executives or individuals with access to valuable information. Attackers use social engineering tactics to create emails that appear to be from a CEO or other high-ranking official, asking for sensitive information or directing the victim to perform a specific task.
Clone Phishing
In this type of cyberattack, the attacker might send an email that appears to be from a trusted source, but with a link to a fake website that looks similar to the real one.
Once the user enters their information, the attacker uses it for fraudulent purposes.
Watering Hole
A watering hole involves infecting a legitimate website frequently visited by a targeted group of users with malware. When users visit the site, their devices become infected with malware, giving the attacker access to sensitive information.
Also Read: Cyber Security Interview Questions and Answers
Effects of Phishing
As previously mentioned, phishing is a type of cyberattack in which an attacker attempts to gain sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal data by pretending to be a legitimate entity in electronic communication. Here are some of the effects of phishing:
Negatively Affects a Business’ Value
The devastating consequences of a successful phishing attack, such as data loss and malware infestation, can lead to investors divesting their funds and decreasing market value. This, in turn, can harm a company’s reputation.
Theft of Intellectual Properties
Companies invest heavily in intellectual properties, such as research and development, new technologies, and trade secrets which are potential targets for theft through phishing attacks. If these intellectual properties fall into the wrong hands, companies could experience a major setback.
Impacts Customer Relationship
A successful phishing attack can decrease employee productivity, put off customers, and have long-term implications on businesses due to the loss of confidence in its security.
Loss of Important Data
Clicking on a malicious link in an email can cause data loss, damaging integrity, and erasing files which is one of the worst outcomes of phishing attacks.
How to Protect Yourself from Phishing Attacks?
Being cautious and vigilant is key to protecting yourself from these attacks in cyber security. Stay alert and trust your instincts. If something seems suspicious, don’t hesitate to investigate further or reach out to the company or organization directly to confirm the legitimacy of the message. Some of the other steps you can take to protect yourself from these attacks are-
- Be Cautious of Unsolicited Emails and Messages: Always be careful when receiving emails or messages from unknown sources. Do not click on any links or download any attachments from these messages.
- Verify the Sender: Verify the sender’s email address and other contact information before responding to a message. Some attacks may use a fake email address that appears to be from a legitimate source.
- Look for Signs of Phishing: Pay attention to warning signs, such as poor grammar or spelling, suspicious links, or urgent requests for personal information.
- Use Security Software: Use antivirus and antimalware software to help protect against phishing attacks. Keep these programs updated with the latest security patches and updates.
- Keep Your Software Up-To-Date: Keep your computer and mobile device operating systems, browsers, and other software updated with the latest security patches and updates.
- Use Two-Factor Authentication: Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. When enabled, you will need to enter a code in addition to your password to log in to your account.
- Use Strong and Unique Passwords: Use strong passwords that are difficult to guess and unique for each of your accounts. Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
- Educate Yourself and Others: Learn more about phishing attacks and how to recognize and avoid them. You can learn about it in detail through a cyber security course.
Further, you can follow the points mentioned below to protect yourself from these attacks in cyber security and other forms of cybercrime. Remember, staying informed and taking proactive measures is essential to keeping your personal information and digital devices safe and secure.
- Use a Pop-Up Blocker: Use a pop-up blocker to prevent pop-ups from unknown sources from appearing on your computer or mobile device. Some phishing attacks may use pop-ups to collect personal information or install malware on your device.
- Be Careful with Public Wi-Fi: Avoid logging in to personal accounts or conducting sensitive transactions while using public Wi-Fi. Public Wi-Fi can be easily compromised, and attackers can intercept your information as it travels through the network.
- Check Your Accounts Regularly: Check your bank and credit card accounts regularly to ensure that there are no unauthorized charges or transactions. If you see any suspicious activity, contact your bank or credit card company immediately.
- Don’t Overshare on Social Media: Be careful about what information you share on social media. Avoid sharing personal information, such as your home address, phone number, or birthdate, as this information can be used by attackers to target you through phishing attacks.
- Use a Password Manager: Consider using a password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts. Password managers can help protect against password-related attacks, such as credential stuffing and brute-force attacks.
Conclusion
Phishing attacks are a serious threat to cybersecurity, and it is important to be aware of the techniques used in these attacks and how to protect yourself. By being cautious of suspicious messages, verifying the authenticity of websites, and keeping your software up to date, you can greatly reduce your risk of falling victim to these attacks. Additionally, using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly backing up important data can provide an added layer of protection against these types of attacks. By staying vigilant and taking proactive measures, you can help keep your personal and sensitive information safe from cybercriminals.
