8 Phishing Techniques

Phishing is one of the most common cyberattacks in existence. Many cybercrime groups use phishing as an initial access vector, providing them with the opportunity to steal login credentials or plant malware on a target system. And what makes phishing such a popular and effective attack mechanism is the fact that it targets the human rather than a computer or software. By using deception, bribery, coercion, and similar techniques, an attacker can get their target to do what the attacker wants.

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Types of Phishing Techniques

Phishing is a general class of techniques, and numerous types of phishing attacks exist. Some of the most common phishing techniques include the following:

  1. Spear Phishing: Spear phishing attacks are targeted to a particular individual or small group. The attacker will research their target and include personalized details that make the attack seem plausible and real.
  2. Vishing: Vishing or “voice phishing” is a phishing attack performed over the phone. Instead of using malicious links or attachments like computer-based phishing attacks, vishers attempt to talk their targets into handing over sensitive information — such as credit card details or personally identifiable information (PII) — or installing malware on their own computers.
  3. Smishing: Smishing is a phishing attack performed using SMS text messages. These messages commonly pretend that there is some issue with the target’s account with a service and include links to phishing pages designed to harvest the user’s credentials for that account.
  4. Whaling: Whaling attacks are a particular type of spear phishing attack focused on high-level executives. These executives have the power to authorize large financial transfers or disclose sensitive information, making them a high-value potential target for a phisher.
  5. Clone Phishing: Clone phishing involves sending a user a phishing email that mimics an email that they have previously received. For example, if the attacker knows that the user received a shipment tracking email, they might send an identical email that includes a link to a malicious site.
  6. SEO Poisoning: Some phishing attacks direct users to malicious websites by manipulating the output of common searches. For example, an attacker may purchase paid ads on a search engine to have a phishing page impersonating a trusted brand show up first in the search results.
  7. Business Email Compromise (BEC): BEC attacks — also known as CEO fraud — involve the attacker impersonating the CEO or a high-level executive. The attacker then instructs another employee to take some action, such as sending money to the attacker’s bank account.
  8. Spam: Spam includes unwanted emails that are designed to steal money or sensitive data from their target. For example, a spam email might tell the user that they need to visit a particular website to update their password.

How to Protect Against Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are a common threat that organizations and individuals face. Some methods for protecting against these attacks include the following:

  • Employee Education: Phishing attacks are designed to trick or manipulate someone into doing the attacker’s bidding. Teaching employees about phishing attacks and the latest techniques and pretexts can help them identify and properly respond to these attacks.
  • Email Scanning Solutions: Email security tools can identify phishing messages based on their content and malicious links or attachments. These emails can be blocked before they reach the target inbox, preventing an employee from falling for the phish.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Phishing attacks are often designed to steal login credentials that provide access to an employee’s account. Implementing MFA increases the difficulty for attackers looking to use these stolen credentials.
  • Separation of Duties: Phishers may attempt to trick or coerce their target into taking some harmful action, such as sending money or sensitive data to an attacker. Breaking high-risk actions — such as paying invoices — into multiple stages assigned to different people increases the difficulty of tricking all of them.
  • Endpoint Security: Phishing attacks may also be designed to deliver malware to a device. Installing corporate endpoint security devices on computers and mobile devices can help to detect and block installation of the malware.

Phishing Protection with Harmony Email and Collaboration

Phishing attacks are a top-of-mind cybersecurity concern for many organizations. While user education can help, the growing sophistication of phishing attacks means that these attacks are more difficult to identify than ever. In addition to building cybersecurity awareness, companies also need technical solutions to help block these malicious emails from reaching employee inboxes in the first place.

 

Check Point’s Harmony Email and Collaboration provides industry-leading protection against phishing attacks delivered via email and other corporate collaboration tools. In fact, it’s been recognized as a Leader in the 2023 Forrester Wave for Enterprise Email Security. To learn more about Harmony Email and Collaboration’s capabilities and see how it can augment your organization’s defenses against the phishing threat, feel free to sign up for a free demo today.

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