The Sophisticated Nature of Phishing Scams

As web usage increases, so does the level of cybercrime. Today, phishing is more prevalent than ever, with criminals posing as credible parties. The aim is to lure unsuspecting victims into releasing sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, and OTPs.

10 Popular Phishing Types

Phishing attacks happen in various ways, most often via email. They are continuously evolving, thanks to the sophistication of hackers. While the goal of phishing doesn’t change, hackers are finding new methods to steal information.

Email Phishing

Most people who spend part of their lives online have experienced email phishing. In most cases, hackers impose a “spray and pray” tactic, impersonating legitimate individuals or organizations. They send mass emails written with urgent pleas. Some might inform the recipient of a compromised account requiring urgent attention. 

The object of the email is to gain trust and ultimately have the receiver click on a malicious link. The URL, more often than not, will lead to a fake login page where victims enter their credentials which the hackers will abuse for their own gain. 

Spear Phishing

Spear phishing also has the same goal as email phishing. However, instead of a mass email, spear phishing involves a curated list of addresses of employees at lower tiers. In this type of phishing, expect personalized content in the emails as hackers will bank on the victim’s trust. The aim is similar: for the receiver to click on a link and reveal sensitive information or unwittingly install malware.

Whaling

Whaling is similar to spear phishing. However, rather than targeting executives and low-level managers, whaling involves the email addresses of CEOs, CFOs, and such. These are management-level people whose credentials can often unlock highly sensitive information. In this type of phishing, the emails may contain some form of urgency as trickery.

Smishing

While much of phishing occurs via email, some attempts happen through SMS. Here, hackers send text messages that look and sound like they come from reputable sources, like banks and e-commerce websites. The texts will contain notices for discount coupons or special offers, enticing victims to click on URLs that request for account credentials. 

Vishing

Unlike the previous forms of phishing, vishing doesn’t take the form of email or text messages. Instead, attackers utilize phone calls. Usually, an automated voice message relays information, claiming to be a legit organization such as a bank or government agency. Victims often report calls regarding their credit card showing suspicious activity or a large sum of money owed to the taxation authority. Hackers then speak to the deceived party, requesting sensitive information for verification purposes. 

Compromised Business Emails

At times, the email accounts of high-level executives fall prey to hackers. Consequently, the attackers will impersonate the CEO, CFO, etc., and send emails to employees. The goal is to initiate a wire transfer or process fake invoices. 

Clone Phishing

Have you ever received an email from a trustworthy organization, only to receive another one right after that looks similar to the previous message? This trick is referred to as clone phishing. The cloned email might seem credible, but look closely, and you’ll find the links or attachments replaced with malicious content. 

Evil Twin Attack

When it comes to evil twin phishing, hackers set up a Wi-Fi network that seems legit on all fronts. When victims connect to the network, they are then led to a phishing site requesting credentials. From there, hackers will gain control of the network and any unencrypted traffic flowing through.

Social Media Phishing

Social media networks are yet another way for hackers to obtain sensitive information. They may create fake profiles and impersonate someone you trust, like a family member, friend, or a brand’s customer service. Sometimes, the messages you get will contain malicious links requesting login information. 

In one incident, Instagram users received private messages claiming copyright violations on posts and threatening account suspension. The victims then landed on a fake website where they keyed in their user credentials and gave hackers access to their IG accounts.

Search Engine Phishing

Most times, the old adage rings true: if something seems too good to be true, it often is the case. In this type of phishing scam, hackers will create e-commerce sites that offer unbeatable prices and deals. Victims will let their greed take over and attempt to purchase something. In the process, they will enter their bank account and other sensitive information.

Don’t Fall Victim!

While it’s easy to fall for a phishing scam, there are also simple ways to avoid doing so. If you run a business, you’ll want to make use of proxies to prevent phishing attacks. You can utilize them in conjunction with email scrapers to scan incoming and outgoing messages. Click on right here for an affordable method to keep your company’s assets safe. Alternatively, bestproxyfinder is an excellent proxy provider review site. There, you’ll find unbiased comparisons to help you locate a vendor to suit your needs and budget. Protect yourself today!