Tag Archives: #Phishing

Phishing and Social Engineering Training

Phishing and Social Engineering
Phishing, Security, , , ,

Companies have tried many methods to train employees about phishing and social engineering. But after all this time, over 90% of all data breaches are traced back to human error. It seems we haven’t progressed from where we were five years ago! Is it that hard to learn? Perhaps there is a better training method that we can use.

Traditional classroom instruction works for introducing concepts, but it’s not the best strategy for optimal retention and practical application of these concepts in the real world. There must be a better way, such as simulation exercises that will encourage critical thinking in the face of an actual phishing or social engineering threat.

10 Skills to Gain from Simulation Exercises

Realistic simulations can help employees develop skills to elevate your organization’s overall security. Here are ten benefits that your staff can gain from simulation exercises.

Ability to Spot Phishing and Social Engineering Attempts

The first line of defense against phishing is to know what it looks like. Most are cleverly cloaked to look like the real thing. There will always be telltale signs that will let you know these links, download requests, or simple email messages are not to be trusted.

Awareness of Safe Browsing Practices

Just because your computer has built-in anti-malware tools doesn’t mean you can be lax in browsing the web. There are things you must do to maintain security each time you are online, like disabling the auto-fill feature in forms, avoiding public Wi-Fi, and using only https websites.

Creation of Strong Passwords to Prevent Phishing and Social Engineering Attacks

We all know how important it is to have strong passwords for all our accounts. Still, many employees forget, perhaps because of the volume of passwords they need to remember. Simulation exercises can show how easy it can be to crack a simple password. Seeing this would effectively drive the lesson and teach people to create long and complex passwords. These exercises can also address multi-factor authentication and an efficient password manager.

Taking Precautions in Social Media

The average person spends 2.5 hours a day on social media. This is a lot of time with exposure to online predators. You can minimize the risk by taking adequate precautions, such as limiting the posting of personal information, staying away from suspicious apps, and being aware.

Prudence in Downloading Files

Even files from trusted sources can be infected with malware, so there is zero room for laxity. Make it a habit to scan all files before downloading and not open files from senders you don’t know.

Using Data Encryption on Phishing and Social Engineering

Data transfer is such an ordinary thing these days that some people forget to take precautions. Now more than ever, it is vital to keep all data transfers as secure as possible by using the most advanced tools and by protecting all devices used for these transfers.

Practicing Physical Security on Phishing and Social Engineering

Just because cybersecurity is in place doesn’t mean physical security protocols can be forgotten. Through simulation, you can see how incredibly easy it is to get through an unmonitored entry point in a building, or how quickly a hacker can enter a system through an unattended device.

Maintaining Remote Security

Using public Wi-Fi for work can open the organization’s network to the prying eyes of cybercriminals. Simulation exercises must cover home network protection, proper use of VPNs, and safety protocols for public hotspots.

Avoiding Malware Risks

Phishing simulation is a great way to teach employees to avoid malware risks. These exercises will teach them what to avoid, increasing their chances of safety for the real thing.

Taking Action on Suspicious Activities

Finally, phishing and social engineering simulation exercises will teach employees what to do if they become a cyberattack victim. Specifically, there will be instructions on incident reporting, whether the breach has been confirmed or suspected.

Is someone hacking your data? Download our Infographic, “The Top 10 steps to take if you think you have been hacked.” If you’d like, call us and we can talk about how we can customize data security for your unique needs!

How Hackers Use Social Engineering Tactics in Phishing Scams

social engineering tactics
Cybersecurity, Phishing, Security, , , , ,

Social engineering is quite a buzzword these days in the world of cybersecurity. But what is it, and why are businesses so afraid of it? It is a form of hacking that uses deception and manipulation to get victims to divulge information. Companies have reason to be fearful because social engineering tactics have led to a lot of destruction and millions of dollars in losses for businesses worldwide.

Phishing is one of the most rampant types of attacks these days. It has been highly successful because it uses tried-and-tested social engineering techniques to hoodwink potential victims.

What are these Social Engineering Tactics, and how do hackers use them?

  • Riding on human emotion.

    When people get scared, nervous, pressured, or curious, they are more likely to make impulsive decisions or actions. Hackers bank on this natural reflex to get victims to reveal personal information before they can think about it. By the time they have calmed down and realized the danger, it will already be too late.

  • Establishing credibility.

    People are quick to trust entities that have an established reputation. This includes institutions like banks or vendors, as well as personal contacts. By imitating these entities, hackers can create a credible image as one of the social engineering tactics that potential victims will almost certainly trust.

  • Personalizing content.

    There is plenty of information in the public domain hackers can use to spin a web of deceit to capture their victims. It goes further than simply calling a target by name. They might refer to a concert you have recently attended or a restaurant you love. By creating familiarity, they cause a potential victim to let their guard down and be more vulnerable to an attack.

  • Using lookalike websites.

    Many hackers send out links that lead to fake login pages identical to real ones as one of their social engineering tactics. A typical tactic is telling you to change your password because it is about to expire. The link they send you to is a lookalike site where you can enter your data. It all looks legit, but if you look at the URL, you see it is a fake link.

  • Creating panic-inducing situations.

    When people get into a panic, they rarely think logically. They will act on the impulse to free themselves from the threatening situation as quickly as possible. If the hackers tell them their account will be closed if they don’t click on the link, you can expect them to click the link in a second.

  • Social engineering tactics – Intentionally misspelling words.

    The typo errors and poor grammar commonly associated with phishing emails are intentional. It is their way of dodging detection by spam filters. Since people are not as vigilant as malware detectors, hackers easily fooled many people despite these glaring errors.

  • Attacking during holidays and special events.

    There is a general air of excitement and engagement around these periods, and hackers capitalize on that to boost the success rate of their phishing attacks. Also, timing the attacks with these events gives an illusion of legitimacy, which makes the targets more likely to become victims. This is one of the common social engineering tactics that hackers use.

  • Spreading malware through attachments.

    Ordinarily, most systems can detect and block malware, but if these malicious files get installed into the system through phishing, your network defenses cannot do anything about it. Once installed, malicious attachments can do a range of damage, from destroying your files to stealing sensitive data.

  • Posing as top executives is a social engineering tactic.

    When your boss requests confidential data, you don’t ask questions and give them what they want with minimal delay. After all, that is what a good employee does, right? Exactly! Therefore, hackers have taken this new approach of pretending to be top executives to get easy access to company information.

  • Creating a pretext.

    This social engineering tactic takes a lot of work and patience because the hackers need to build trust. Gradually, they gain the confidence of the victim, who will eventually disclose information more freely.

Final Thoughts about Social Engineering Tactics

Now that you know how hackers use social engineering tactics for phishing, you have the knowledge to avoid an attack. However, despite all the awareness and safety precautions, it is still possible to become a victim. For this, we have created an infographic called “The Top 10 Steps to Take If You Think You Have Been Hacked.” If you think you have been hacked, this tool would be very handy. You can download it right here. 

If you need more information on social engineering and other cybersecurity issues, call us. We will provide everything you need to improve your protection against online threats!

Top 8 Phishing Scam Tactics and How to Identify Them

Phishing Scam Tactics
Cybersecurity, How To, Phishing, Security, , , ,

Phishing has been a common hacking method for over two decades now. You would think that everyone would already know how it works and how to avoid becoming a victim, right? Sadly, that is not the case for these Phishing Scam Tactics. There are more victims now than ever. In 2022, there were more than 300,000 victims in the US alone, with damages amounting to over $52 million!

The thing is that phishing scams have evolved over the years. Hackers are now more adept at hoodwinking unsuspecting victims, and they also have easy access to modern technology that helps elevate their phishing tactics.

Top 8 Phishing Scam Tactics

To protect your data and your business, you must build awareness of these scams at all levels of your organization. Here are the top 8 indicators of phishing scam tactics and what to do when you encounter them.

Spoofed Emails

Upon getting an email from a trusted source, many people would open the email without a second thought. Hackers know this and use it for their Phishing Scam Tactics. They make the email look like it came from a reputable source by indicating a trusted sender name, although the email address is not correct. Before opening an email, check that the sender and the address are the same.

Sense of Urgency

Receiving a message that threatens to close your account or bring you legal action can easily cause you to freak out. Because of your panic, you could rashly click on the links as instructed in the email. Of course you would…you don’t want to be sued or go to jail! Stay calm when you receive such emails. Verify the information before taking action.

Malicious Links as a Phishing Scam Tactics

Malicious links are among the oldest phishing methods, but they are still very effective. Sometimes, these links appeal to a person’s natural curiosity, and at other times, they come with the promise of a reward. Either way, it led the unwitting victim to click the link or open the attachment. Again, always check before clicking.

Password Requests

Have you ever received an email from your bank or credit card provider asking for your password or other sensitive data about your account? Never! Legitimate companies do not ask for these kinds of data from clients. In case you get such a request, this is a phishing scam tactics so make sure to block and ignore it. They are almost certainly hackers trying to get into your account.

Misspellings and Poor Grammar

Although many hackers have sharpened their grammar skills by now, many phishing emails are still easily identifiable by wrongly spelled words and typographical errors. Yes, they make you cringe, but these emails can wreak serious havoc on your business. Therefore, you must not even reply or make grammatical corrections.

Personalized Content

It sounds like a legit email if they address you by the correct name and position, right? Hackers are very resourceful. They can get their hands on publicly known information with little effort. They can also access so much more if you engage in their attempts. So before you take any action, make sure to verify the source of the message.

Fake URLs are used in Phishing Scam Tactics

Using fake website URLs is another phishing scam tactic with a very high success rate. Hackers send out emails that look like they came from a trusted source, like a service provider, containing a link to what looks like the actual page of the provider, and they will ask you to log in. Of course, thinking that you are at a legit site, you enter your login details, unknowingly giving them full access to your account.

Unexpected Emails

If you suddenly receive an email out of nowhere that raises an alarm, be immediately wary because this is likely to be a scam. Do nothing they are asking you to do. Don’t even reply. Verify the source of the email to see if it is legit.

Final Thoughts

If anyone in your organization receives any form of these phishing scam tactics, encourage them to speak out so others will be doubly vigilant. If someone thinks someone has already hacked them, it’s not necessarily too late. There are things you can do to minimize the damage. We have outlined the steps in an infographic called “The Top 10 Steps to Take If You Think You Have Been Hacked”. You can download it by clicking right here.

To learn more about protecting your business from phishing scams and improving your company’s cybersecurity, call us. We will be happy to set you up for a free consultation!

Achieving Compliance as a Team

Achieving Compliance
Cybersecurity, Data Backup, Security, , , , , , ,

Before your company can fully comply with all the requirements set by third parties like regulatory bodies and clients, there are dozens upon dozens of tasks that need to be completed. These tasks are spread across different areas of the company and are impossible for just one individual to accomplish. The process of achieving compliance would require a fast and thorough team of compliance specialists.

Vital Matters to Discuss when achieving compliance

In most cases achieving compliance failures can be attributed to a lack of planning and communication. To avoid these problems, bring your compliance team together right from the start and discuss all the crucial matters.

Email Encryption

Daily, hundreds of emails can go back and forth in your company. You need a reliable encryption system to protect all emails and keep all data away from these hackers.

Data Encryption

Customer data, credit card information, and other data must all pass through a secure collection system to avoid theft or exposure to unauthorized parties. This method is crucial when achieving compliance.

Firewalls

Skilled hackers can easily override some firewalls. If you are still using an older firewall try upgrading to a multi-level system for a much better defense against unwanted intruders.

Backups

Data backups are your lifeline of a system failure or cyberattack and are crucial when achieving compliance. It is crucial to create backups regularly and store them in a safe location in a system that complies with client and government requirements.

Data Availability and Storage when achieving compliance

Sensitive information within your business must only be accessible to authorized individuals. There should be a surefire method of restricting access to sensitive information to minimize data breaches.

Physical Access

Maximizing digital security is critical, but you must not take physical safety measures for granted. Every employee should shut down their computers properly after use. Screen filters might be necessary when achieving compliance for some workstations with sensitive data.

Responsibilities of the Internal Compliance Officer to achieving compliance

In addition to choosing a highly skilled IT compliance team, you also need an internal compliance officer on your payroll when achieving compliance. Their primary duty would be to monitor the staff and ensure that each one abides by compliance procedures—locking their systems when they leave their workstations, practicing caution when using credit card information and private company data, and so on.

Regular cybersecurity training is also part of the responsibilities of the internal compliance officer. Quarterly training is ideal for keeping employees aware of the pervasive dangers online. When new employees join the team, they should receive training on compliance policies as well.

Finally, it is also the internal compliance officer who maintains compliance-related documentation such as communication standards and backup plans.

Delegating Compliance to an MSP

Even businesses that are not in the IT industry will need to comply with several IT regulations when achieving compliance. If you do not have an in-house tech team and if your staff does not have the expertise or experience to handle the task, there’s no need to worry. MSPs, or managed services providers, can take these technical matters off your hands.

If you partner with us, we will assign your company a team of compliance experts who will ensure that you meet all relevant requirements. Whether you need to fulfill requirements for HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR, NIST, or any other regulatory authority, we will take care of it to completion. Give us a call, our team will also coordinate closely with your organization to ensure we meet all requirements. You can also check out our Free Cybersecurity Infographic if you’re looking for great advice to keep your business safe in the meantime.