As you navigate technology and the internet, there is no shortage of possible threats to your business that are ominously waiting and preparing to attack. It can feel overwhelming when it comes to finding yourself against these attacks, and as they develop in subtlety and severity, it can feel exhausting to always be on the lookout for them.
Therefore, it’s important to prepare, get to know your cyber enemies, and use the many resources available to protect your company. In the information to follow, we will learn more about the threat of spear phishing. You will find out what spear phishing is, how you can recognize this kind of attack, and what helps protect you from spear phishing.
What is Spear Phishing?
Spear phishing is a targeted phishing attack that is aimed directly at a certain business or individual. This is different from standard phishing attacks that are directed more broadly to the general public. This specific, individualised attack, using personal information in a convincing way, is, therefore, more deadly and more difficult to detect. About two-thirds of cyber-attack groups admit to using spear phishing as a tool of attack. Evidently, it’s a common form of attack that therefore requires users to be aware of it and know how to handle it.
Spear phishing can rear its ugly head in many different forms. Fake login pages convince a person to enter their login credentials which are then available to steal. Malicious software can be attached to an email, and corrupt a person’s computer once opened. Cybercriminals can post as a trusted entity and ask for sensitive information, or a message can be sent that appears to be a person that is known when it is just another way of getting confidential information. With so many methods and when the attack appears in so many forms, how can you identify a spear phishing attack when one appears?
How Can You Recognise a Spear Phishing Attack?
There are a few things to be aware of that can help you to spot an attempted spear phishing attack.
- A suspicious email address. Spear phishers will commonly use an email address that looks very similar to a legitimate one in order to trick their victims. The domain name may be only slightly different or just misspelled in order to appear genuine. Double-check the email addresses of the sender when you get an unexpected email.
- An unknown attachment or link. Don’t click on attachments and links! Hover over links before you click to check where they are directed, and check the sender’s details before you go opening any attachments.
- Grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. A reputable company won’t send out emails that have grammatical errors or spelling mistakes, but a phisher will. Read everything carefully, and if something sounds dodgy, it probably is.
- An unexpected request for information. A genuine company linking a bank or credit card company will NEVER ask you for login credentials or financial details over email.
Even if you know what to look for, stopping spear phishing can still be a challenge. What can you to prevent a spear phishing attack?
How Can You Prevent a Spear Phishing Attack?
Here are six proven ways that prevent spear phishing attacks.
- Educate. Security awareness training is essential for all members of staff within an organisation. This will help them to be able to identify spear phishing tactics and understand how dangerous they can be. When users are well-trained, they will know better than to open unexpected attachments or click unknown links. They will be encouraged to slow down and think before they click.
- Authenticate. Multiple-factor authentication makes it a lot harder for a criminal to steal your personal credentials and information. This means you need more than just a protective layer to your data to prevent someone from being able to gain access to your account. A strong password is a basis for such protection, and beyond that, you need to set up additional notification and verification steps, such as a text message to your phone with a unique code.
- Back-Up. Always remember how important it is to back up your data. This is a good way to prevent extensive damage from spear phishing attacks, as even if a threat does occur and your data is compromised, you won’t need to worry about losing any of it as it’s always safely backed up and stored elsewhere.
- Encrypt. The encryption of sensitive data is essential in protecting it from spear phishing attacks. It will make it considerably harder for a hacker to access your data, even if they’ve made it through every other defense and got their hands on it. With this in mind, it’s beneficial for you to encrypt things like personal information, credit card details, and passwords to reduce your vulnerability to spear phishing attacks.
- Update. Keeping software and security systems up to date is an essential aspect of preventing all kinds of cyber-attacks, as well as spear phishing ones. The most up-to-date software will give you the most up-to-date protection. Any vulnerabilities could be exploited by a crafty hacker who could use a small weakness to cause great damage.
- Invest. Besides the steps above, one of the best ways to protect yourself from cyber threats is to invest in specialised security software. Many providers can offer solutions that identify and deal with threats promptly while also improving your protection against any attempted attacks in the future.
You Can Win the Fight Against Spear Phishing
Spear phishing is a real and dangerous threat, but don’t let fear paralyse you. Instead, take action to educate yourself and others, work hard to look after your data and sensitive information and invest in powerful solutions that can give you the peace of mind you need to run a strong and successful business. With these tips and services behind you, you can win the fight against spear phishing.
