What is Phishing and How To Protect Yourself

Phishing

One of the oldest hacking techniques. It is also one of the simplest, and, surprisingly, one of the most effective. Most people do not even suspect that anything is amiss when under phishing attacks because they do not realize what it is or how it works

Below is listed what you need to know about phishing, including how to protect yourself from the most common Phishing attacks

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In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the concept of phishing, how to recognize phishing attempts, the different types of phishing attacks, and, most importantly, how to protect yourself from falling victim to these scams.

How to Recognize Phishing

Phishing is all about deception. Hackers impersonate other people or entities in an attempt to gain your trust and get you to reveal sensitive information such as credit card numbers and passwords. Alternatively, the hackers will try to get you to download damaging malware and spyware that then collects sensitive data and sends it back to them

Most phishing attacks are random and widespread, designed to target a large group of people with the hope that some victims fall for the trap. However, there are two more distinct forms of phishing:

Common Phishing Techniques and Their Solutions

Hackers use a variety of techniques to phish information off their victims. Three in particular are very popular. They are quite effective

Spear Phishing

In this case, hackers target a specific individual for a variety of reasons. These may be partners, work colleagues, friends, and relatives, or prominent people. 91% of Cyberattacks and the resulting data breach begin with a spear phishing email, according to research from security software firm Trend Micro

Whale Phishing

In this case, hackers target specific individuals that are prominent and stand out in society. These may be CEOs of major companies, celebrities, or politicians, among others. Because of the people who would have access to large and sensitive databases “Whales” are carefully chosen for their access within the company. The goal of a whaling attack is to trick a CEO or Executive into revealing personal or corporate data, often through email and website spoofing

Session Hijacking

Also known as TCP session hijacking, is a method of taking over a user session by surreptitiously obtaining the session ID and masquerading as the authorized user. Once the user's session ID has been accessed, the attacker can masquerade as that user and have access to the network. With session hijacking, the phisher exploits the web session control mechanism to steal information from the user. In a simple session hacking procedure known as session sniffing, the phisher can use a sniffer to intercept relevant information so that he or she can access the Web server illegally.

Content Injection

This is a technique where the hacker changes a part of the content on a web page of a website. This is done to mislead the user to go to a page outside the legitimate website. The general intent of content injection is to get users to enter their sensitive information by misleading them.

Link Manipulation

Link manipulation is the technique in which the hacker sends a link to a malicious website. When the user clicks on the deceptive link, it opens up the phisher’s website instead of the website mentioned in the link.

Hovering your mouse over the link to view the actual address stops users from falling for link manipulation.

Here is an example of a fake link
https://rshweb.com
When you hover your mouse, you see it actually will take you to Bing.com

Malware

Phishing scams involving malware require it to be run on your computer or mobile device. The malware is usually attached to the email sent to the user by the phishers. Once you click on the link, the malware will start functioning. Malware may also be attached to downloadable files.

The most common examples of malware include:

• • Viruses
• • Worms
• • Trojans
• • Ransomware
• • Fileless malware
• • Adware
• • Malvertising
• • Spyware

Email Phishing

Email is the most popular platform for phishing, as emails are easy to fake (for hackers) and difficult to authenticate (for victims). It accounts for over 90% of all phishing attacks

Email phishing is somewhat simple. Suppose a hacker wants the log-in details of your online PayPal account. The hacker might register a Domain Name that looks a lot like PayPal's and design the email to look like PayPals Email. The email will then alert you to a reason why you need to log in to your PayPal account

The most common PayPal alert look like you have a security breach that requires you to change your passwords

The trick in email phishing is that the emails come with links to the supposedly real website. However, these websites are also replicas. Once you click on the link, it redirects you to the replica website that then collects your log-in information. The links may also download malware and spyware that then collects your sensitive data

The solution to email phishing is to be wary of all emails. Never click any links in the email. Go directly to the website itself

Smishing (SMS Phishing)

Smishing is a type of phishing attack that takes place via text messages (SMS). In smishing, attackers send fraudulent messages to victims, often impersonating trusted companies or individuals. These messages may contain a link that leads to a fake website or prompt the victim to call a phone number, where they are asked for personal information.

Vishing (Voice Phishing)

Telephone phishing is also popular, and it is threatening to become even worse with the rise of robot calls. In this case, all a hacker needs is a relevant phone number and a good tongue

Numbers that appear on the caller ID are easy to replicate and spoof. As such, mainstream numbers that are saved on your phone book will easily pass off as authentic when under a telephone phishing attack. This is why most hackers impersonate major service organizations such as banks and governments. The common tactic is to call with a false alarm that somehow will require you to share sensitive information such as bank account numbers. However, hackers can also go an extra mile to target specific individuals by spoofing phone numbers of their personal contacts

Authentication is just as hard with telephone phishing as it is with email phishing. As such, you should always check twice. As such, if a major organization calls asking for sensitive information, then make sure that you get the callers name and position. This usually scares hackers away. Alternatively, hang up and call the company directly
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Website Phishing

Phishers are becoming more and more sophisticated in designing their phony websites. It's all about deception. Hackers create websites that look exactly like the original and try to lure people to these websites. Hackers usually target major websites dealing with sensitive issues such as finance and personal data

Here are some signs to look for that can help you distinguish a real website from a phishing site

Check the URL or Web address. Just because the address looks right, do not assume you are on a legitimate site. Look in your Browser's address bar for these signs that you may be on a phishing site

Incorrect company name. Often the web address of a phishing site looks correct but actually contains a common misspelling of the business name. Or a character or symbol before or after the company name. Also look for tricks such as substituting the number "1" for the letter "l" in a Web address (for example, www.paypa1.com instead of www.paypal.com)

"http://" at the start of the website address. Most all websites address starts with "https://" today. The letter "s" should be included

Be leery of pop-ups. Be careful if you are sent to a website that immediately displays a pop-up window asking you to enter your username and password. Phishing scams may direct you to a legitimate website and then use a pop-up to gain your account information

Pharming

Pharming is a more sophisticated form of phishing that redirects users from legitimate websites to fraudulent ones. This is typically done by exploiting vulnerabilities in the victim's computer or DNS settings. Once the victim enters their information on the fake site, it is collected by the attacker.

How Phishing Works: The Process

• • The Initial Contact: The attacker initiates the phishing attack by contacting the victim through email, SMS, phone call, or social media. This communication usually includes a sense of urgency, such as claiming that the victim's account has been compromised or that they need to act quickly to avoid consequences.
• • Deceptive Content: The message contains a deceptive element designed to trick the victim into taking action. This could include a link to a fake website, a malicious attachment, or a phone number to call. The attacker may also ask the victim to provide personal information directly in the message.
• • The Fake Website or Phone Call: If the victim clicks the link or makes the phone call, they are directed to a fraudulent website or are connected to a fake phone line. The website or phone operator may then prompt the victim to input sensitive information, such as login credentials, credit card details, or Social Security numbers.
• • Data Harvesting: Once the victim enters their information, the attacker harvests the data and uses it for malicious purposes, such as identity theft, financial fraud, or unauthorized access to accounts. In some cases, the attacker may sell the stolen data on the dark web.

Learn More About Phishing

The following documents and websites from Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) can help you learn more about phishing and how to protect yourself against phishing attacks

Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks
Federal Trade Commission, Identity Theft
Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) Report phishing emails

Summary

Phishing attacks are a significant threat to individuals and organizations alike. As cybercriminals continue to refine their tactics, it's essential to stay vigilant and take proactive steps to protect yourself. By understanding what phishing is, recognizing the signs of an attack, and implementing protective measures, you can safeguard your personal information and minimize the risk of falling victim to these malicious scams.

Stay informed, stay cautious, and always remember to think before you click. Your online safety depends on it.

Author Bio: Adam Jones

With over 10 years of experience working at major organizations and agencies. His expertise spans across...

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