What Is Phishing In Cyber Security? Learn to Prevent and Strengthen Security!

Phishing is a common type of cyber attack named after ‘fishing’, where bait is used to lure and trap fish. In a similar way, phishing tricks its victims into clicking on malicious links or visiting harmful websites that are cleverly designed to look authentic. These fraudulent sites can bring in malware, which is invasive software developed by hackers to sabotage systems and organisations or trick users into revealing sensitive information like passwords or financial details. Understanding phishing is important because it poses a major threat to both individuals and organisations. As the world is evolving more and more in the digital landscape, phishing attacks have increased leading to financial losses and data breaches.

In this article, we will understand what is phishing in cyber security, its types, and how to identify and prevent it. 

Table Of Contents

• What Is Phishing In Cyber Security?

• How Does A Phishing Attack Work?

• Types Of Phishing Attacks

• How To Prevent Phishing Attacks?

• How Cyber Security Course Helps?

• Conclusion

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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What Is Phishing In Cyber Security?

Phishing has been a threat since the early days of the internet. The term was coined in the mid-1990s when the attacks started targeting online (AOL) users. Over the years, these attacks have evolved to become more target-specific and harder to detect. 

Many individuals are curious to identify and learn what is phishing in cybersecurity. In cybersecurity, phishing attacks involve criminals pretending to be trusted sources, such as banks or companies, to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information. The information they ask for can be passwords, credit card numbers or personal information. Often, this is initiated through emails or messages that look like they are coming from trusted sources, urging individuals to click on links or download attachments that lead them to fake websites or malicious software. To recognise phishing attacks, one must be wary of unexpected messages and emails. Individuals must always verify the sender’s identity, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and utilise up-to-date security software.

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How Does A Phishing Attack Work?

Phishing attacks are carefully planned and executed to trick victims into giving up sensitive information or access to their bank accounts. They can be categorised according to the body and motive of the attack. The anatomy of a phishing attack starts with the hacker or attacker sending a message, often an email, that looks like it’s being sent by a trusted source. This stage is called baiting. The message usually includes a link or an attachment to gain the victim’s attention. This is called the hook. When the victim clicks the link or opens the attachment, they are taken to a fake website or start downloading malware. This is the capture phase. Finally, in the harvesting phase, the attacker collects sensitive information like login credentials or financial details.

Phishing attacks use different techniques to deceive victims. Spoofing involves creating fake emails or websites that seem genuine. Social engineering consists of manipulating people to reveal confidential information. Moreover, harmful software may also be hidden in attachments or links to infect the user’s system. The Phishing Attack Lifecycle can look like this:

• Preparation: This initial stage involves crafting the phishing message and setting up fake websites.
• Delivery: In this stage, the hacker sends the phishing message to potential victims.
• Interaction: During this time, the victims interact with the malicious content.
• Exploitation: The harvesting stage involves giving out sensitive information or installing malware.
• Execution: This is the final step, where the attacker uses the stolen information for fraudulent activities.

Here are some real-world examples that show what is phishing in cybersecurity. In 2013, attackers used phishing emails to breach Target’s network, stealing 40 million credit and debit card numbers. Between 2013 and 2015, a Lithuanian scammer tricked Google and Facebook employees into digitally sending $100 million to fraudulent accounts by pretending to be a company supplier.

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Types Of Phishing Attacks

Phishing involves attackers frauding individuals into revealing sensitive information and risking their security. Phishing attacks are of different types, they are:

Email Phishing

This is a form of cyber attack that involves sending fraudulent emails that appear to be from trustworthy sources. These emails often contain harmful links or attachments designed to steal personal information or infect the receiver’s device with malicious malware.

Spear Phishing

This phishing attack is personalised according to the receiver’s preferences. The hacker personalises the messages using the victim’s personal information. These emails seem to be sent from a reliable source, which makes them more believable and difficult to spot. 

Whaling

Whaling is a specialised form of spear phishing that focuses on influential individuals in a company, like top executives and senior leaders. The main goal of whaling is to get confidential data or secure entry to crucial systems.

Smishing (SMS Phishing)

In this type of phishing, attackers commonly send text messages that seem to be from genuine sources, usually including links to harmful websites or asking for personal details.

Vishing (Voice Phishing)

Attackers often pretend to be trustworthy organisations (such as banks or government agencies) in order to mislead victims into sharing sensitive information like credit card numbers or Social Security numbers.

Clone Phishing

A type of phishing where cyber criminals create a fake version of a genuine email the target has received before. The duplicated email contains harmful links or attachments, and the attacker might claim that the original email had errors.

Pharming

Pharmin is a more advanced type of phishing that occurs when cyber criminals redirect traffic from a legitimate website to a fake site without the user realising it. This is typically achieved by exploiting vulnerabilities in DNS servers or implanting malicious software on the victim’s device.

How To Prevent Phishing Attacks?

Phishing attacks can be confusing and unidentifiable. In today’s digital world, many individuals fall prey to fraud, which causes financial burdens on a personal level as well as an organisational level. Let’s learn how we can detect and learn how to prevent phishing attacks:

On A Personal Level

Authorised Source: Always download software from authorised and trustworthy sources. Before adding any personal information or payment details, make sure to recheck with the company’s customer service.

Confidentiality: You should avoid disclosing personal information to unfamiliar sources and safeguard your data against hacking threats.

Check URL: Always verify the URL of websites to avoid falling victim to phishing attacks. This will prevent you from getting caught in such scams.

Avoid Replying to Suspicious Emails:  If you get an email from someone you know but it seems questionable, reach out to them using a new email instead of hitting reply.

Phishing Detection Tool: One should always utilise tools that can identify websites with false content.

Avoid Free WiFi: Avoid connecting to free Wifi as it can result in security risks and potential Phishing attacks.

Keep Your System Updated: Keeping your system up to date helps protect it from various forms of Phishing Attacks.

Keep Firewall On: Having active antivirus and firewalls helps filter out unclear and questionable data, ensuring only verified data can reach you.

On An Organisational Level

Recognise Phishing Signs: You should sttay alert for questionable emails, especially ones that request personal details or immediate responses.

Avoid Clicking Links: Before clicking, hover over links to verify their destination. Whenever you can, input URLs directly into the address bar of your browser.

Change Passwords Regularly: Update your passwords frequently and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.

Keep Software and Firmware Updated: Enable automatic updates for software and firmware to ensure protection from known security exposures.

Install Firewalls: Make use of firewall software to manage and hold inbound and outbound network traffic while preventing unauthorised entry.

Avoid Clicking Popups: Don’t click on popups – instead, close them by clicking on the X in the window. Clicking on them might result in accidental downloads or fraudulent activities.

Be Cautious with Credit Card Data: Only input credit card details on websites that are secure. Search for HTTPS in the URL and a padlock symbol in the browser’s address bar.

How Cyber Security Course Helps?

Enroling in a cyber security course allows individuals to obtain the necessary expertise to safeguard the systems and data against cyber threats. These cyber security courses offer a complete understanding of the cyber security field and what is phishing in cybersecurity, covering the most recent tools, methods, and developments. Examples of main subjects usually consist of network security, cryptography, threat intelligence, and ethical hacking. Practical experience with real-world scenarios is crucial in these courses, including hands-on training and simulations. Being awarded with certifications like CISSP, CEH, or CompTIA Security+ is essential as they confirm skills and improve career opportunities. Once they finish a cyber security course, graduates have the option to explore different career paths such as security analyst, penetration tester, and information security manager.

Conclusion

Phishing poses a major risk in today’s digital era, using fraudulent tactics to target both individuals and organisations. Being alert, educated, and taking the initiative to learn what is phishing in cybersecurity is crucial in identifying and stopping these attacks. It is important to use modern security tools, confirm sources, and understand phishing techniques in order to safeguard sensitive information. By combining technology with cyber security education, we can strengthen our protection against constantly changing cyber threats. Remain attentive and careful to protect yourself from phishing attacks, remembering that being aware and ready are your strongest defences.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – What Is Phishing In Cyber Security?  Learn to Prevent and Strengthen Security!

Q1. How does a phishing attack work?

Phishing attacks usually consist of sending fake messages (often emails) that look like they are from trusted sources. These communications have links or attachments that, if clicked on, will take you to fake websites or install malware.

Q2. What is phishing in cybersecurity in terms of email?

Signs of a phishing email include requests for personal information such as passwords or financial details right away, generic greetings without mentioning your name, and emails containing unexpected links or attachments.

Q3. What should I do if I think I’ve received a phishing email?

If you think an email may be a phishing attempt, refrain from clicking on any links or downloading attachments from it. Carefully review and report if the email seems suspicious.

Q4. How can I stay safe from phishing attacks on a personal level?

You can stay safe from phishing attacks on a personal level by verifying sources, avoiding public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities, and keeping your software up-to-date.

Q5. How does a cyber security course help to prevent phishing attacks?

Courses on cyber security offer the expertise and abilities needed to recognise and prevent phishing attacks. They address subjects like network security, threat intelligence, and ethical hacking to equip people to protect against cyber threats.