Phishing scams try to trick you into revealing sensitive data or downloading malware, that often lead to identity theft, credit card fraud, or other cybercrimes.

In this blog, you will learn all about phishing and how to prevent it.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is an online scam in which attackers send you a fake message (usually by email) to trick you into revealing sensitive information (like login or credit card details) or downloading malware on your device.

Types of Phishing attacks

Phishing can be done through various methods and techniques, including email, social media, phone calls, or text messages.

Here’s a brief explanation to help you understand better:

• Email Phishing

This is the most common type of phishing attack. In this technique, the attacker sends a fraudulent email that appears to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank, social media platform, or e-commerce site. The email often contains a link or attachment that, when clicked, directs the user to a fake website designed to steal their login credentials or other personal information.

• Spear Phishing

This is a more targeted form of phishing where the attacker sends personalized emails to a specific individual or organization. The attacker often uses information gathered from public sources, such as social media profiles or company websites, to make the email appear more convincing. The goal is to trick the recipient into clicking on a malicious link or attachment.

• Whale Phishing

Also known as CEO fraud or business email compromise, this technique targets high-level executives or employees with access to sensitive company information or finances. The attacker impersonates the CEO or another high-ranking official and requests that the target transfer money or provide confidential data.

• Vishing and Smishing

These are variations of phishing that use voice (Vishing) or text messages (Smishing) instead of email to trick the victim into providing personal information or performing an action. The attacker may claim to be a bank or government agency and ask the victim to call a phone number or click on a link to resolve an urgent issue.

• Angler Phishing

This type of phishing occurs on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. The attacker creates a fake profile and posts links to fake websites or malicious content. The goal is to trick people into clicking on the links or downloading malware. This technique is also known as social phishing.

How to spot a phishing email

Spot a phishing email by looking out for the following characteristics:

• Unofficial sender address

The email appears to come from a legitimate source, but upon closer inspection, you will find out that the sender’s email address is unofficial. For example, instead of an email address ending in “@bankofIgeria.com,” the sender’s email address may be “bankofIgeria@hotmail.com” or another unofficial domain. This is a red flag that the email is likely a phishing attempt.

• Generic greeting

Phishing emails often use a generic greeting such as “Dear customer” instead of addressing the recipient by name. This is because the attacker does not have the recipient’s name and is attempting to cast a wide net to reach as many potential victims as possible.

• Urgent requests, threats or prizes

Phishing emails may contain urgent requests, threats or promises of prizes to induce the recipient to take action. For example, an email sender may claim that the recipient’s account has been compromised and needs to be updated immediately, or that there will be consequences if the recipient fails to respond. These are tactics used to create a sense of urgency and prompt the recipient to take action without thinking things through.

• Grammar/ spelling mistakes

Phishing emails often contain spelling and grammar mistakes or awkward sentence structures that suggest the email was not written by a native English speaker. These mistakes are often an indicator that the email is a phishing attempt.

• Links, buttons & unsolicited attachments

Phishing emails may contain links to fake websites that look like legitimate ones, or buttons that lead to malware or virus downloads. They may also include unsolicited attachments that contain malware. Before clicking on any link or downloading any attachment, it’s important to verify the source of the email and ensure that it’s legitimate. One way to do this is to hover over the link without clicking on it to see where it leads. Another way is to check the sender’s email address against the official domain name of the organization they claim to represent.

How to prevent phishing attacks

Take the following steps to prevent phishing attacks:

• Secure your email

Secure your email by using a strong password and enabling two-factor authentication. This can help prevent unauthorized access to your email account and stop phishing emails from being sent from your account.

• Beware of links & attachments

Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown or suspicious sources. Always verify the sender’s email address and check the URL of the link before clicking on it. When in doubt, don’t click on it and delete the email.

• Don’t respond to spam

Do not respond to spam emails or unsolicited messages, even if they look legitimate. Spam emails are often used as a way to get you to provide personal information or download malware. You should mark spam emails as junk and delete them immediately.

• Install antivirus software

Installing reputable antivirus software on your computer and devices can help detect and remove malware that may have been downloaded unknowingly through a phishing email or malicious website.

• Keep your devices up to date

Keep your operating system, email client, and browser up to date with the latest security patches and updates. This can help protect your devices from vulnerabilities and exploits.

• Use Strong passwords and 2FA

Use strong, unique passwords for all of your online accounts, and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible. 2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring an additional factor, such as a fingerprint or a code sent to your phone, to access your account.

• Back up your data

Regularly back up important data on your computer and devices to protect against data loss in the event of a malware attack or system failure. This can also help recover from a ransomware attack.

How To Protect your organization from phishing attacks

Here’s how to minimize the risk of phishing to your business:

• Enable spam and phishing filters

Enable spam and phishing filters on your email server and email clients to automatically filter out and block malicious emails before they reach your employees’ inboxes. This can help reduce the risk of phishing attacks and other types of email-based threats.

• Train your team

Provide regular training to your employees on how to identify and avoid phishing attacks. This training can include simulated phishing exercises, which can help your employees recognize and respond to phishing attempts.

• Enforce strong passwords and 2FA

Enforce the use of strong, complex passwords for all employee accounts and require the use of two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. This can help prevent unauthorized access to your company’s sensitive data and systems.

• Get corporate antivirus

Install reputable antivirus software on all of your business devices to protect against malware, viruses, and other types of cyber threats. Ensure that the antivirus software is kept up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates.

• Protect critical data

Identify and prioritize your company’s critical data and systems and implement additional security measures to protect them. This can include data encryption, access controls, and data loss prevention (DLP) solutions.

• Back up your data

Regularly back up all of your company’s data to an off-site location or cloud storage service. This can help ensure that your data is safe from malware attacks, hardware failures, or other types of data loss.

By implementing these measures, businesses can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to phishing attacks and other types of cyber threats. However, it is important to regularly review and update your cybersecurity strategy to ensure that you are adequately protecting your business from the latest threats.

Conclusion

The most common reasons mentioned as motivations for phishing are 10% for disruption of site services and 6% for financial gains. 

From bulk spam to targeted whaling, phishing remains one of the main ways scammers commit online fraud, and we’re all targets.

Since phishing relies on human error, vigilance is the best defense. If you receive a message with signs of phishing, don’t open or respond to it. Delete it.B

But we’re all human, and even seasoned IT security experts can fall for phishing sometimes. That’s why you need to take steps to reduce the risk.

Do you have questions on how to find the perfect cybersecurity solution for your business? Enov8 Solutions can help you. Email us at Info@enov8solutions.tech to get started.

Here is why connecting to public Wi-Fi is risky

The availability of free public Wi-Fi has greatly benefited professionals who require access to their networks and work while on the go. These hotspots are easily found in places like restaurants, hotels, airports, bookstores, and other retail locations. However, this convenience comes at a cost.

To safeguard your important business data, it’s crucial to learn how to protect yourself from these risks.

First, let’s understand what public Wi-Fi means.

What is Public Wi-Fi?

Public Wi-Fi refers to wireless internet networks that are made available to the general public in areas such as airports, hotels, libraries, schools, and other public spaces. These networks are usually free to use and do not require a password or any form of authentication to connect.

About 47% of users connect to public Wi-Fi to save on their cellular data usage while they are out and about.

18% of users opt for public Wi-Fi to work remotely, while 15% use it to stream online content.

For 11% of users, public Wi-Fi is a last resort when they have no cellular connection or simply choose not to use it at all.

In summary, public Wi-Fi serves various purposes, with most people using it to avoid depleting their cellular data. Others use it to stay entertained or work remotely, while some avoid it altogether or only use it as a backup option.

Security Risks of Public Wi-Fi

• Man-in-the-middle Attack

This is one of the most common threats on these networks.
In this type of attack, the hacker intercepts data being sent between two devices and can view, modify, or steal the data.

A man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack is a form of cyberattack in which an attacker intercepts a conversation between two parties. This attack can be targeted at individuals, systems, or even a combination of the two. The objective of a MITM attack is to gather personal information, passwords, banking details, or to manipulate the victim into taking certain actions, such as changing login credentials, initiating a fund transfer, or completing a transaction.

• Password Theft

Some hackers use specialized tools to locate passwords saved in your browser or those you entered into websites, apps, or emails while using public Wi-Fi.

Revealing your passwords is one of the most detrimental risks when using public Wi-Fi since it grants malicious hackers direct access to your accounts. The impact is even more severe with business login information.

To safeguard your passwords, a VPN can help prevent prying scammers from accessing them. Additionally, it’s wise to securely store all of your credentials in a password manager. A password manager automatically fills in your login data into websites, concealing it from eavesdropping hackers.

• Snooping for Sensitive data

Public Wi-Fi networks are well known for being prone to surveillance by malicious actors who are searching for confidential documents, including sensitive contracts, invoices, and two-factor authentication (2FA) codes.

Using public Wi-Fi could put both your personal finances and employment security in danger. Conducting online activities over public Wi-Fi may result in a breach of an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) or jeopardize the work of your colleagues.

To safeguard your sensitive documents, whether you are a business owner or an employee, it is crucial to be mindful of the security risks associated with using public Wi-Fi. Employing robust cybersecurity solutions to protect you and your employees is critical. Also, avoid sending, receiving, or discussing sensitive information over unsecured hotspots.

• Malware distribution

Software vulnerabilities make it possible for attackers to install malware on your computer without your knowledge.

A software vulnerability is a security hole or weakness found in an operating system or software program. Hackers can exploit this weakness by writing code to target a specific vulnerability, and then inject the malware onto your device.

Malware infection of your device can occur when using unprotected public Wi-Fi, allowing attackers to easily introduce harmful software.

Attackers can infect your device by placing a malicious ad on a trustworthy website, coercing you to complete a phishing form, or deceiving you into installing a fake app that captures your keystrokes.

Safeguarding your devices from malware involves utilizing fundamental security measures, such as anti-malware and VPN services. These tools work continuously to secure your data and device as you switch between different Wi-Fi networks.

• Ransomware attacks

Once malicious actors have gained access to your sensitive data, they can blackmail you for its release.

Ransomware attacks increased by 80% in 2022, placing both individuals and businesses at a higher risk.

To safeguard yourself, refrain from logging into sensitive file-sharing services when using public Wi-Fi. However, if it’s necessary, ensure that you use tools like a VPN to encrypt your data. Finally, always keep a backup of your most crucial data in a secure location, preferably disconnected from the internet.

How to protect yourself before and after connecting to a public WIfi

Prior to connecting to public Wi-Fi:

• Activate your VPN.
• Delete your browsing history and cache.
• Verify that your antivirus software is up-to-date and functioning correctly.
• Disable Bluetooth discoverability settings to prevent others from forcing your device to connect to theirs.
• Ensure that you have enabled two-factor or multi-factor authentication (2FA or MFA) for your most critical accounts.
• Disable auto-connect to avoid having your device forcibly linked to Wi-Fi networks.

While using public hotspots:

• Only connect to networks that you can associate with a physical location.
• Log out of any account that is not essential while online.
• Close or exit applications that you do not intend to use.
• Use a password manager to store all your passwords and autofill your login information.
• Avoid entering sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details, social security numbers, home address, etc., while connected to public networks.
• Keep your list of saved Wi-Fi networks limited to only those that you trust.

After disconnecting from a public network:

• Scan your devices for malware using antivirus software.
• Restart your device, as this may help break the connection between it and a potential attacker.
• Remove networks that you do not need from your preferred network list.
• If possible, use your mobile hotspot instead of public Wi-Fi.

CONCLUSION

The same features that make free Wi-Fi desirable for consumers also make it attractive to computer hackers, as it typically requires no authentication to establish a network connection. This presents a golden opportunity for hackers to gain access to unsecured devices on the same network. The most significant threat to free Wi-Fi security is when a hacker positions himself between you and the connection point. This means that instead of communicating directly with the hotspot, you are unwittingly sending your information to the hacker, who then relays it on.

Public Wi-Fi networks are convenient, but they also pose significant risks to your personal and financial security.

While it is possible to use public Wi-Fi safely, it is important to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect yourself. By doing so, you can enjoy the convenience of public Wi-Fi without putting yourself at risk of cyberattacks and other security threats.

Enov8 Solutions’ objective is simple: your data is our top priority, and our data security solutions safeguard your file and email systems against malware, ransomware, advanced persistent attacks, and insider threats.

Do you have questions on how to find the perfect cybersecurity solution for your business? Enov8 Solutions can help you. Email us at Info@enov8solutions.tech to get started.

Email Hacked?

Seven steps you must take immediately.

So the scenario is pretty simple, for one reason or another, you found out that your email account has somehow been compromised. What do you do next?

We are going to give you seven steps to follow.

• Recover your account.

You need to be able to log in to do anything else to your account to secure it after a compromise.

So, follow the recovery procedure provided by your service provider. That typically entails tapping on a link that says I have forgotten my password or I have lost access to my account. You will be guided through a process by that service to demonstrate your identity and why you should be granted access to your account.

Now, the most frequently asked question is, What if I am unable to log into my account? What if my restored data is no longer accurate? What if it simply doesn’t function?

If you can’t log into your account, some email providers give advice on how to restore hacked accounts. so you might be requested to fill out a form to ascertain that it is you who is trying to log into your account.

• Change your password

If you are able to log into your email, change the password immediately. And of course, make it long and strong and secure.

Make it at least 16 characters long with a variety of random characters. If the service permits it, make it a multi-word phrase.

The hacker may still have access to your account even after you log in or retrieve your password. Changing the password to something they don not know and cannot predict is one method you can use to disable that.

• Verify and or change your account recovery information.

The fact that you have been able to get back into your account means that your recovery information is still there. But make sure it is all set to something that you still have access to.

• Check your out of office messages, the auto responders, the forwards and the signatures.

Basically, anything that somebody who had access to your account could have changed while they had access.

Sometimes, when hackers gain access to an account, rather than take it away completely, they simply do things like change your signature, or set up an automatic forward or change a reply-to, so that when people reply to your email, it goes to them, instead.

Your email account offers a lot of customization options. You need to confirm that those have not been changed and are still set to what you anticipated them to be, depending on your service provider.

• Check if related accounts have been compromised.

If they have access to this email account, they may have used it to gain access to other accounts.

This is probably the most terrifying scenario because you need to check all of your other accounts to make sure none of them have been affected, particularly if you can’t access the account anymore and you use this as your main email address. The hacker could request a password change on those other accounts while they have access to your account if this is the account that is used as the email address on other online services.

This implies that they could hack into your Dropbox account, Microsoft account, and any other web accounts you may have by hacking into your main email account. Therefore, be sure to know precisely to which other accounts they might have had access.

• Let your contacts know.

You need to inform your connections to ignore anything that came from you while your account was compromised. So that they do not fall for any of the tricks that the scammer may have sent out while they had access to your account.

• Prevent it

Be proactive

Account hacks are happening all the time. And it is one of those situations where people do not understand how important some of this security is until it hits them.

How about having security in place to prevent it?

Enov8 Solutions’ objective is simple, your data is our top priority, and our Cybersecurity solutions safeguard your file and email systems against malware, ransomware, advanced persistent attacks, and insider threats.

If you have questions on how to find the perfect Cybersecurity solution for your email security? Then email us at Info@enov8solutions.tech

Conclusion

If you have had your account hacked, there was a reason. It could be as a result of your security habits like using weak passwords, ignoring software updates, clicking unverified links, ignoring MFAs etc

Some hygienic security habits are

1. Creating strong passwords and never sharing them with anybody.
2. Ability to recognize phishing emails.
3. Keeping the operating system and other applications on your system as up-to-date.
4. Turning on Multi factor authentication – MFAs are like silver bullets. If a hacker gets your password, they still will be unable to log in without that second factor that only you have. So turn on MFA on your accounts now.

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