Phishing – a cyberattack technique by sending fake emails or links to fraudulent websites to steal user information. Phishing can cause serious consequences such as loss of money, identity, data or system intrusion. To better understand what phishing is and effective Anti-Phishing methods for individuals and businesses, read the following article!

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a form of phishing attack aimed at defrauding users into providing sensitive personal or financial information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, OTP codes, etc. Phishing is often carried out by sending fake emails. or messages with links to fake websites, in which users are asked to enter their information. The purpose of phishing is to steal user information to use for bad purposes, such as account takeover, money withdrawal, unauthorized purchases…

What is email phishing? This is a type of phishing email used to trick users into providing sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, credit card information, or other financial information. Phishing emails are often masqueraded as being from a trustworthy organization, such as a bank, credit card company, or online service.

Phishing methods – Popular phishing attacks

Popular phishing methods include:

• Phishing by topic: Attackers send fake emails containing attractive or urgent topics, such as announcements of winning prizes, requests for account verification, warnings about being hacked, etc. The purpose is to stimulate interest the user’s curiosity or concern and get them to click on the link in the email.
• Targeted Phishing: The attacker researches the victim and customizes the spoofed email to match their industry or profession. For example: A fake email can pretend to be a charity organization, a service provider, a potential customer, etc. The purpose is to increase the trust and credibility of the email and make users believe that email is legal.
• Campaign Phishing: The attacker sends fake emails related to a current event or campaign, such as an election, a promotion, a health crisis, etc. The purpose is to exploit the users’ concerns or concerns about hot-button issues and make them want more information or act quickly.
• Digital Phishing: Attackers use digital tools to copy or change email addresses, phone numbers, digital signatures, etc. to make the fake email look like it was sent from a trusted source. The goal is to bypass email security filters and leave users in no doubt about the email’s authenticity.

Effective anti-phishing methods for individuals and businesses

Phishing can cause serious consequences for individuals and businesses, such as loss of money, reputation, or invasion of privacy. To fight phishing, you need to have effective prevention and response methods. Here are some anti-phishing methods for individuals and businesses:

• Always check the sender’s email address or website before clicking on any links or attachments. If you see any suspicious signs, such as misspellings, missing punctuation, or unrelated to the email content, delete the email immediately.
• Never give out your personal information via email, phone, or unauthenticated websites. If you receive a request to enter personal information from an unknown source, contact the organization or individual directly to verify the authenticity of the request.
• Use security tools on your device, such as antivirus software, a firewall, or a browser with anti-phishing protection. Regularly update the latest versions of these tools to ensure the safety of your device.
• Train employees on how to recognize and avoid phishing. Organize training sessions, tests, or simulations of phishing attacks to improve employee awareness and skills. Establish clear procedures and policies on how to behave when encountering phishing.
• Report and share information about phishing attacks you encounter. If you are a victim of phishing, notify the impersonated organization or individual, authorities, or websites specializing in cybersecurity. If you’re a business, encourage your customers and partners to do the same.

Phishing is one of the increasingly common and dangerous cybersecurity threats. By applying effective anti-phishing methods for individuals and businesses, you can protect your important information and avoid unnecessary risks.

See more: What is a Brute Force attack?

How to detect a phishing email?

In today’s era of developed information technology, email is one of the most important and convenient means of communication. However, email is also a channel for scammers to commit fraud, appropriate property or personal information of users. To protect yourself from these risks, you need to know how to recognize phishing emails and how to handle them safely.

Emails that show signs of fraud often have some common characteristics as follows:

• Sent from email addresses of unknown origin, not related to any organization or individual you know.
• Have a title or content that attracts attention, stimulates the recipient’s curiosity or greed, such as a prize-winning announcement, a request to solve an urgent problem, providing attractive business opportunities…
• Contains unusual links or attachments, which may lead to fraudulent or malicious websites.
• Require the recipient to provide or confirm personal information, bank account, credit card number, password…
  There are many spelling, grammatical or informational errors.

If you receive emails that appear to be fraudulent, you should follow these steps:

• Do not reply, do not click on links or attachments in emails.
• Check the origin of an email by viewing details about the sending address, subject, and content. If you have any doubts, you should delete the email or report it as spam.
• If the email is related to an organization or individual you know, you should contact them directly through other channels to verify the email’s authenticity.
• If you have accidentally provided personal or financial information to phishing emails, you should change the passwords of the relevant accounts and report them to the authorities.

See more: Safeguarding Enterprise Network Information Security

Phishing is a form of online fraud in which an attacker impersonates a trusted organization to trick users into providing sensitive information. By following these guidelines and precautions, you can reduce your risk of email phishing scams and keep yourself and your family safe. Always be careful and alert when using email in your life and work.