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From Spear Phishing to Smishing: The Evolution of a Deceptive Practice

January 27, 2023 by Peter Koshakji

Phishing is a type of cyber attack that uses deception to trick individuals into giving away sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial information. The goal of a phishing attack is to steal personal information, access sensitive systems, or spread malware.

There are several types of phishing attacks, including:

  • Email phishing: This is the most common type of phishing attack. It involves sending an email that appears to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or a government agency, and contains a link or an attachment that, when clicked, downloads malware or redirects the user to a fake website designed to steal personal information.
  • Spear phishing: This type of phishing attack is targeted at specific individuals or organizations. The attacker may use personal information, such as the victim’s name or job title, to make the email appear more legitimate.
  • SMS phishing: Also known as “smishing,” this type of phishing attack uses text messages to trick individuals into giving away personal information.
  • Vishing: This type of phishing attack uses phone calls to trick individuals into giving away personal information.

To protect yourself from phishing attacks, it is important to be aware of the signs of a phishing attempt and to exercise caution when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. Additionally, you should:

  • Be suspicious of unsolicited emails, even if they appear to be from a legitimate source.
  • Be wary of emails that contain urgent language or ask for personal information.
  • Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments, even if the email appears to be from a trusted source.
  • Use anti-virus software and keep it updated.
  • Use two-factor authentication, if available.
  • Keep your software and operating system up to date.
  • Use a password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts.
  • Educate yourself about the latest phishing techniques and how to avoid them.

It is also important for organizations to implement security measures to protect against phishing attacks, such as:

  • Employee education and awareness training
  • Email filtering and anti-spam solutions
  • Web filtering and security software
  • Regular security audits
  • Implementing a incident response plan

Remember that phishing is an ongoing threat and new tactics are being developed all the time, so staying informed and vigilant is key to staying safe online. If you need help, reach out to us and we can work with you to meet your objectives. Schedule a free consultation.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: #cybercrime, #CybercrimeEvolution, #cybersecurity, #cyberthreats, #Fraud, #IdentityTheft, #personalInformation, #PhishingScams, #Protection, #SecurityAwareness, #smishing, #SpearPhishing, #Tactics

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Steer Clear of Coronavirus Scams

April 13, 2020 by Peter Koshakji

With the world grappling with a health pandemic, scams are shocking. Regrettably, bad actors are everywhere, always looking for opportunities, and they’re seeing one in the coronavirus. This article outlines what you need to watch out for and how to stay cyber safe.

The last thing you want to read right now is that there’s another threat out there – sorry, but it’s true. Cybercriminals take advantage of fear. They take timely concerns and use them to target victims. Using the anxiety and upheaval around coronavirus is their mission.

So far, several coronavirus-related attempts to cyberscam people have been reported. There are examples of:

  • emails that appear to come from government health departments;
  • offering a tax refund to get people to click on malicious links;
  • memos to staff that appear to come from large employers;
  • COVID-19 test offerings from private companies;
  • fake websites promising to sell face masks or hand sanitizer;
  • soliciting donations to help fund a vaccine.

 

What to Watch Out For

Another concern is the number of bogus websites registered with names relating to COVID-19. The site can look legit but is set up to steal information or infect the victim’s computer with malware.

You may get an email promising the attached information offers coronavirus safety measures, or information shared by the World Health Organization (WHO) if you click on the link, or a similar email pretending to be from a reputable news source, such as the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

In another example, an email impersonating a healthcare company’s IT team asked people to register for a seminar “about this deadly virus.” Anyone who didn’t question why IT was organizing the meeting clicked to register. By filling out the form, they gave their details to hackers.

What to Do

Be cautious. It’s understandable that you’re anxious, but don’t let that stop you from taking cyber precautions. You should still:

  • be wary of anything that tries to play on your emotions and urges immediate action;
  • question where emails are coming from – remain vigilant even if the communication appears to come from a reliable source;
  • hover over links before clicking them to see where they will take you – for example, in the WSJ example, the Web address was for the “worldstreetjournal”;
  • avoid downloading anything you didn’t ask for;
  • doubt any deals that sound too good to be true (“a mask that stops the virus 99.7% of the time!”);
  • ignore any communications requesting your personal information;
  • don’t be suckered by fraudulent pleas for charity.

Global health organizations generally do not send out emails with advice. Instead, navigate directly to that reputable health institution for real news.

If you’re still not sure about the validity of the communication, check it out. Do so by calling or using another medium to get in touch with the “source” of the received message.

While there is not yet a vaccine for COVID-19, you can put anti-virus protection on your computer. Also, make sure that you’ve applied all available security updates to keep your software safe.

We hope you’ll take care and stay healthy both physically and online in these tough times.

Need help installing security software and keeping your technology safe? Our cybersecurity experts can give your home a tech immunization. Contact us today at 563-258-7500!

Filed Under: CoronaVirus Tagged With: #coronavirusscams, #COVID-19Scams, #covid19, #cybercrime, #cybercriminals, #cybersecurity, #financialWell-being, #onlineFraud, #onlineScams, #pandemicScams, #personalInformation, #phishing, #scamPrevention, #scmas, #smishing

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