Phishing Attacks and Scams

Phishing Attacks

• Phishing is the most common attack in today's digital age, where cyber criminals send deceptive emails.
• The goal of phishing attacks is to deceive individuals into giving out sensitive information or taking dangerous actions.

Types of Phishing Attacks

• Spear phishing: a targeted attack on a particular person or organization, often using easily found online information.

Characteristics of Phishing Scams

• Create a sense of urgency or familiarity to prompt reaction without considering consequences.

Defense Against Phishing

• Be suspicious of all emails, especially unexpected messages with links or attachments.
• Stop, look, and think before taking any action.
• Verify suspicious messages by contacting the sender directly using a known phone number.
• If not legitimate, follow organization's policies and procedures for reporting it.

Types of Fishing Attacks

• Phishing: cyber criminals send emails disguised to look like they are coming from trusted contacts or organizations to deceive users into giving out sensitive information or taking dangerous actions.
• Spear phishing: a targeted attack on a particular person or organization using easily found online information, making it more convincing.

Characteristics of Phishing Scams

• Create a sense of urgency or familiarity to prompt the user into reacting without considering the consequences.
• Often contain links or attachments that can be infected.
• Use a false sense of trust by pretending to be from a trusted source.

Defense Against Phishing Attacks

• Be suspicious of all emails, especially unexpected messages containing links or attachments.
• Stop, look, and think before taking any action.
• Verify suspicious messages by contacting the sender directly using a known phone number.
• If the email is not legitimate, follow the organization's policies and procedures for reporting it.