What is phishing? It is a cyber-attack tactic used by hackers to steal sensitive data from unsuspecting victims, including passwords, bank accounts, and credit card numbers. The attacks typically come in the form of emails, websites, and other online forms which appear reputable and safe but are actually malicious.

Phishing attacks can be extremely devastating to individuals, companies and organizations if successful, as they can lead to financial loss, identity theft, information theft, and other malicious activities within an organization. It is important to be aware of the risks and to learn how to protect yourself and your organization against such attacks.

What is the Origin of Phishing?

The term phishing is believed to have been coined in 1995 by hackers to describe their practice of using technology to bank on unsuspecting victims, specifically email and web forms. Criminals use this technique as a way to bypass security systems and gain access to sensitive information.

Phishing attacks have become increasingly sophisticated over the years, using sophisticated software to generate their messages and use advanced techniques to impersonate legitimate organizations, such as banks and major corporations.

What Are the Different Types of Phishing Attacks?

There are various types of phishing attacks, some more sophisticated than others. Here are some of the common types of phishing attacks:

• Email phishing – where an attacker tries to get a victim to open a malicious email by impersonating a legitimate company.

• Insider phishing – where an attacker uses insider information to gain access to confidential information.

• Bait and Switch – where an attacker baits victims with a lure, but instead they switch the recipient to a malicious website.

• Spear phishing – where an attacker targets a specific user or group with a tailored message and malicious link.

• Business email compromise (BEC) – where an attacker sends an email that looks as if it is from a company’s executive or other known senior personnel.

How Can You Protect Yourself or Organization Against Phishing Attacks?

One of the most effective steps you can take to protect against phishing attacks is to educate yourself, your business and your organization on how to identify typical phishing emails, websites and other forms. Here are some helpful tips to help protect you and your organization from phishing:

• Educate yourself and your organization on the common signs of phishing emails and websites.

• Best practice is to never click on any links or download attachments from emails from unknown or suspicious sources.

• Utilize two-factor authentication to verify users identities before granting access to sensitive information.

• Regularly update anti-virus software to protect against malicious content.

• Utilize suspicious link detection and URL filtering to block malicious links.

• Train your staff on best practices to protect against phishing attacks.

• Institute policies and procedures to identify and mitigate risks associated with phishing.

• Have a response plan in place to address any successfully phishing attacks.

Are There Legal Implications of Phishing?

Yes. Victims of phishing can take legal action against perpetrators. Penalties for phishing can vary from state to state, but typically can include fines, restitution for damages and even criminal charges for criminal offenses.

Organizations can also face class-action lawsuits for data security breaches if they do not make a good faith effort to protect their customers’ data. Bringing a lawsuit can be daunting, however a successful lawsuit can award damages, penalties and even criminal prosecution of the perpetrator.

Phishing is a serious cyber-attack tactic used by malicious actors to steal sensitive data from unsuspecting victims. It is important to be aware of the risks and to educate yourself, your business and your organization on how to identify typical phishing emails, websites and other forms, and on how to protect against these attacks. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can help protect yourself and your organization against these malicious attacks.