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One hour and 12 minutes are all it takes for a hacker to get your personally identifiable information from a phishing email
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One hour and 12 minutes are all it takes for a hacker to get your personally identifiable information from a phishing email.

Phishing emails are one of the most popular methods that hackers use to gain access to people’s personally identifiable information (PII). And it’s alarmingly effective; according to a recent study, it only takes an average of one hour and 12 minutes for a hacker to successfully collect data from a phishing email.

What is email phishing?

So, what is email phishing? Put simply, it’s a type of online scam in which hackers send spoofed emails that appear to be from a legitimate source (like a bank or financial institution) in an attempt to trick recipients into clicking on a malicious link or attachment. Once the link or attachment is clicked, the hacker can then gain access to the victim’s personal information, which can be used for identity theft or other malicious purposes.

Email phishing is a serious problem, and it’s only getting worse; cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to make their spoofed emails look more convincing. That’s why it’s important to know how to protect yourself from these types of attacks.

11 types of Phishing Attacks

In 1987, phishing became a widely-used strategy. As digital technology advances, these attacks continue exploiting weaknesses and can also be used as a means of defense against them. Below are 11 of the most common types of phishing:

  • Standard email phishing is probably the most widely used form. This is not a targeted attack that may be taken in mass form.
  • Malware phishing uses the same tactics as email phishing which is used to encourage targets to click on the attachments and download malware onto devices.
  • Spear phishing is a more sophisticated type of attack than email phishing. This is an attack on a specific individual or organization after collecting information about them.
  • Clone phishing involves taking an existing email that has been sent and replicating it exactly but with a different attachment.
  • Smishing uses Short Message Service (SMS) messages to reach out to targets on their cell phones.
  • Vishing is similar to phishing but uses Voice over IP (VoIP) to make phone calls instead of email.
  • Search engine phishing occurs when someone types in a search query and clicks on a malicious link that appears in the results.
  • Browser hijacking is when cybercriminals insert code into web browsers that will redirect users to spoofed websites.
  • Deceptive phishing is an attack that uses social engineering to get targets to hand over their login credentials.
  • CEO fraud is when a high-level executive’s email account is compromised and used to send out phishing emails to employees asking for money or sensitive information.
  • Parameter tampering happens when someone alters the URL parameters to redirect users to a fake site.

How to Protect Yourself from Email Phishing Attacks

The first step is to be aware of what a phishing email looks like. Hackers are getting more and more creative with their phishing scams, but there are still some telltale signs that you can look for. For instance, many phishing emails will contain typos or other grammatical errors. They may also come from an unfamiliar sender or contain suspicious attachments. If you’re ever unsure about an email, err on the side of caution and don’t click any links or open any attachments.

Another way to protect yourself from phishing attacks is to enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts. 2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to enter a code from your phone in addition to your password when you log in. This makes it much harder for hackers to gain access to your accounts, even if they do have your password.

There are some steps you can take to protect yourself from email phishing attacks. Here are a few of the most effective:

– Be suspicious of unsolicited emails: If you receive an email from someone you don’t know, or from an organization that you’re not expecting to hear from, be wary. Cybercriminals often use spoofed emails to target victims, so it’s important to be vigilant.

– Don’t click on links or attachments in suspicious emails: This is one of the surest ways to get your personal information into the hands of a hacker. If you’re not sure whether an email is legitimate, err on the side of caution and don’t click on any links or attachments.

– Hover over links to see where they lead: Before you click on any links in an email, hover your cursor over them to see where they lead. If the link appears to be leading you to a different website than what’s specified in the text (e.g., the text says “www.bankofamerica.com” but the link leads you to “www.bofa-scam-site.com”), then it’s probably a phishing email. Don’t click on it!

– Verify requests for personal information before responding: If you receive an email that appears to be from a legitimate source and asks you for personal information (like your Social Security number or bank account number), do not respond! These kinds of requests should always be verified with a phone call or by going directly to the organization’s website before giving out any sensitive information.

– Report suspicious emails: If you receive an email that appears to be part of a phishing attack, report it immediately so that others don’t fall victim to the same scam. You can usually forward suspicious emails To report them, visit www.[organization].[com]/reportphishing (e.g., www .bankofamerica .com /reportphishing).

By following these simple steps, you can dramatically reduce your risk of becoming a victim of email phishing scams. Remember: if something looks too good (or too bad) to be true, it probably is! Trust your gut and err on the side of caution; it could save you a lot of trouble down the road.

Conclusion

Email phishing is becoming increasingly common as hackers find new ways to trick victims into clicking on malicious links and attachments. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself from these types of attacks. Be suspicious of unsolicited emails, don’t click on links or attachments in suspicious emails, check where links are really leading before clicking on them, verify requests for personal information, and report suspicious emails immediately if you receive them. By following these simple steps, you can prevent yourself from becoming the victim of an email phishing scam.

Did you know that A PC Geek can help your employees learn about and protect themselves and your business from phishing emails? Contact A PC Geek at info@a-pc-geek.net or 469-567-0181 to learn how we are helping our small business clients achieve success.

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