Most Of The Types Of Phishing Attacks You Should Know About | Total Security Software

 

Phishing remains one of the biggest cybersecurity threats in the world.

In fact, according to research by cybersecurity firm Barracuda, phishing has become so common that the number of phishing attacks related to the Coronavirus increased by 667% from January to March of this year. Even more disturbing is that according to a study by Intel, as many as 97 percent of people cannot learn about phishing emails.

To avoid becoming a victim, you need to know the different ways a phisher can try to attack you. Here are eight different types of phishing attempts you may encounter.

The contents of the topic hide 

1. Phishing via email

2. Targeted phishing

3. Whale hunting

4. Phishing

5. Phishing via SMS

6. Trolling with a hook

7. CEO Fraud

8. Phishing via the search engine

Stay informed and be alert

1. Phishing via email

This is the typical phishing designed to mimic an email message from a legitimate company. It is the least complex type of attack using the “spray and prays” method (an expression originally used in traditional advertisements, meaning that the merchant can pump and spend money on ad campaigns and pray for results).

As this type of phishing will not target a specific person, public emails are often sent to millions of users in the hope that some unsuspecting victims will click on the link, download the file, or follow the instructions in the email.

Often the messages are not intended so you will find that a general greeting is used, such as "Dear Account Holder" or "Dear Member". Social engineering is often used to spread panic or fear by using words like "urgent" to get users to click on the link.

2. Targeted phishing

This type is more complex and advanced than previous phishing and it targets a specific group or even specific individuals. It is often used by prominent hackers to infiltrate organizations.

The fraudster does extensive research about the people, their background, or the people they routinely interact with so that they can craft a more personal message. And since users don't often complain that there is something wrong with more personal messages.

  The most popular ways that cybercriminals target children on the Internet

Always check the email address and letter format compared to what you normally receive from this contact. It is also best to contact the sender and check everything before downloading the attached file or clicking on the links even if it appears to be from someone you know.

3. Whale hunting

This is another sophisticated and advanced type of phishing, which only targets a specific group of people - high-level business managers such as managers or CEOs.

Sometimes the target may be dealt with directly in the salutation text and the message can be in the form of a subpoena, legal complaint, or something that requires urgent action to avoid bankruptcy, dismissal, or legal fees.

The attacker spends a lot of time conducting extensive research about the person and crafting a specialized message targeting key people in the organization who usually have access to funds or sensitive information.

Links will be sent to the target and using a disguised login page where access codes or authentication details will be collected by the hacker. Some cybercriminals may also ask victims to download an attachment to view the rest of the subpoenas or supposed letter. These attachments come with malware that can gain access to your computer.

4. Phishing

Phishing or phishing is a type of phishing but instead of sending an email, the attacker will try to obtain your login information or phone banking details.

The attacker would impersonate an employee of an organization or technical support from a service company and then influence feelings to ask the victim to hand over bank account or credit card details.

Sometimes the call might be about a late sum like taxes, contest earnings, or it could be from a fake tech support employee requesting remote access to a computer. It may also use pre-recorded voice messages and phone number spoofing, making the external call appear as if it was local.

Experts advise people to never give out sensitive information, such as login details, Social Security numbers, or bank and credit card details, over the phone. You should hang up and call your bank or service provider right away instead.

  What are the 5G security risks that you need to be aware of

5. Phishing via SMS

SMS phishing is any form of phishing that involves the use of text messages or SMS. The fraudster will try to lure you to click a link sent via a message to a fake site. You will be asked to type sensitive information such as your credit card details. The hacker will then collect this information from the website.

They may tell you sometimes that you won a prize or that if you don't write your information, you will still be billed hourly for a specific service. As a general rule, you should avoid responding to SMS text messages from numbers you do not know. Also, avoid clicking on the links you get in text messages especially if you don't know the source.

6. Trolling with a hook

A relatively new method of phishing uses social networks to entice people to share sensitive information. The fraudster monitors people who post their problems with banking and other services on social networks. Then they pretend to be the customer service representative from that company.

Suppose you posted a buzz about a late deposit or some bad banking service and the post included the name of your bank. The cybercriminal will use this information to pretend he is from the bank and then contact you.

Whenever you receive a message like this, it is always best to contact customer service through secure channels like the official Twitter or Instagram pages. These usually have a verified account tag.

7. CEO Fraud

This species is almost like whaling. It targets CEOs and managers but becomes more deceptive because the goal is not just to get information from the CEO, but to impersonate him. The attacker, pretending to be the CEO or something similar, will send an email to colleagues requesting money via bank transfer or promptly sending confidential information.

  Things you should not share on social media

Typically, the attack targets someone within the company authorized to make wire transfers, such as a budget officer, people from the finance department, or anyone with sensitive information. Often the message is meant to appear very urgent, so the victim will not have time to think.

8. Phishing via the search engine

This is one of the newest types of phishing attacks that use legitimate search engines. The fraudster will create a fake website that offers deals, free items, product discounts, and even fake job offers. He will then use SEO (search engine optimization) techniques to get his website indexed by legitimate search engines.

You will then be tricked into logging in or providing sensitive information that is then collected by cybercriminals.

Some of these scammers have become adept at using advanced techniques to manipulate search engines to drive traffic to their websites.

Stay informed and be alert

Knowing the names of each type is not as important as understanding the style, position, and channel of each attack. You don't have to bully yourself with what they're all called, but it is important to know how to craft the messages and channels that attackers use to reach you.

It is also important to always remain alert, and know that there are a lot of people out there trying to trick you into introducing your sensitive details. Understand that your company may become a target of attack and that criminals are looking for a way to get in.

Knowing that such threats exist is the first step towards preventing your computer from becoming an entry point for attackers. It's also important to re-check the source of the message before taking action.

You should also understand that attackers sometimes use users' fear and panic to get them to do what they want. So when faced with a threat, it is important to calm down so that you can think. And when it comes to spotting scams and promotional giveaways, the old adage still applies: if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Protegent360 Total Security Software safe from phishing attacks with antivirus.