Backdoor access, source code bug exploits, direct hacks into computer systems… Although these are serious cyber attacks, they are not the biggest threat to businesses.
Who is the biggest culprit for successful cyber attacks? Corrupted Firewall or Antivirus? Perhaps older computer systems that no longer receive updates and security fixes? No, the biggest weaknesses of systems are their operators or users, as long as they are not trained to recognize the signs of attempted intrusion and data theft. For internet experts, the biggest source of frustration is phishing attacks and social engineering related strategies.
It is almost impossible to prevent phishing attacks by technical means alone. Of course, experts can set up web guards to monitor mail and web traffic. Postal service providers are also constantly improving their detection systems, which automatically classify many phishing attacks as spam. But in the same way, the attacks are getting better, which is getting more and more difficult to recognize. So the best guardian and guardian is the user himself. Awareness of phishing and other cyber attacks plays a major role here. Users who are able to recognize the signs of phishing attacks, or at least suspect that something is wrong with a received message, is the best protection for the company from cybercriminals, hackers and other bad actors who want to get valuable data.
OptiCyber3 cybersecurity experts will teach your employees the different types of phishing attacks, how to recognize them, and what to do in the event of a phishing attack.
What are the most common phishing attacks?
However, phishing attacks are getting smarter and more diverse in an attempt to circumvent the protection of IT professionals. In the past few years, very few types of phishing attacks have appeared, varying according to the attack method or target chosen.
Phishing is an acronym for SMS phishing, in which an attacker looks for information via a text message. It can present itself as a telecom provider telling you that you have the option to upgrade to the latest mobile package at a “reasonable” price. He can pretend he’s a famous company that just picked you as the “lucky” winner in a prize game you didn’t even apply for. What is luck, right? SMS messages also often include online links through which attackers collect information about victims or use it as a gateway to installing malware.
Have you ever answered a suspicious or unknown phone number and been greeted in the friendly voice of a salesperson, tech support specialist, or similar on the other end of the phone? These are called phishing attacks, where attackers use various techniques to try to obtain account numbers, financial data, or gain access to a computer. They use masks that reflect a high degree of confidence, such as the bank, police, ministry, Microsoft, Apple and the like. They often use intimidation tactics in addition to threats to force victims to disclose personal information or provide phone or computer access.
Attackers, who want to inflict the most damage and earn the most money, often rank the leadership among their victims. This is a tactic of phishing attackers who target specific individuals. Before the attack, they first find out who in the company is vulnerable to attacks and at the same time has sufficient permissions to control certain systems. Then they set up personalized emails that appear to come from another employee or trusted source. This greatly increases the chances of theft or data access.
We also know about phishing, in which attackers wait for their opportunity on social networks. They wait patiently for the user to complain about a particular company or service, and then send a link promising to link them to technical support, but in reality, the malware is installed in the background.
The user should always be on standby, especially in a business environment that, despite the high level of protection, cannot prevent all attacks. You can educate your employees about the dangers of the Internet, but for maximum efficiency, leave it to the Internet experts and ethical hackers of the Slovenian company OptiCyber3.
How is cyber education conducted?
Awareness of phishing begins with realizing the potential harm of successful attacks. Employees should be aware of what is at stake and what risks posed by cyber attacks. Then the foundations can be built so that employees can recognize the signs of phishing attacks and report them to the relevant service. Initial training is provided through documents, videos, periodic meetings, group training, or a combination of the above. Instead, he entrusted the preparation of education to the Internet experts, who conducted several workshops behind them, through which they succeeded in raising the level of awareness of the employees.
Without the help of experts, you also won’t have access to one of the most useful tools for employee education. We are talking about simulating real phishing attacks. There is no teacher better than experience. IT professionals will regularly test employees (with prior permission from management) and monitor their progress. In the event of a successful simulated attack, employees will be notified and redirected to a training page where they will be able to update or gain new knowledge to identify phishing attacks.
If you want to switch your employees to direct antivirus software, contact professional cybersecurity company OptiCyber3. Visit their website isf.si or contact them at [email protected]