Among the most common cybersecurity threats that almost every company and organization faces at some point is phishing.
What is Phishing?
Phishing is a type of cyber-attack where an attacker impersonates a reputable person in an email. A common phishing practice is sending an email with a falsified return address that appears to be from a legitimate source. For this reason, it is more likely that the recipient will open it. Phishing attacks are common because it is easier to manipulate the recipient into giving up information than hacking through a computer’s defenses.
Examples
These types of attacks have become very sophisticated and imaginative because they target businesses and their employees.
- For instance, an employee receives an email with a secure document asking them to provide a login and password to view the content, after which the document doesn’t open. An even more imaginative example is an employee receiving an email where the attacker is impersonating the CEO of the company and asking them to quickly buy something online, for which they provide sensitive information.
Recommendations
- There are various ways you can ensure your data and personal information stay safe and secure.
- Always check the sender’s email address and avoid clicking on any links or attachments from unknown senders.
- Before clicking on any links, carefully inspect the URLs to see if they are legitimate.
- Make sure you are expecting to receive a link or attachment.
- Never provide confidential information or sensitive personal data over email.
- An even more effective solution to combat phishing attacks is the AI-driven built-in security technology of Microsoft 365 business premium.
By going the extra mile to follow these simple security steps, your data is more protected, allowing for more efficient and productive growth.