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One of the most prevalent and deadly cyber dangers organisations face today is phishing. If you’re unfamiliar with the phrase, phishing is a sort of attack in which criminals use fraudulent emails or websites to steal important information from their victims, such as passwords or credit card numbers.

Companies must be aware of the issue and take precautions by using cyber threat intelligence platforms to protect themselves. There can be different methods of instilling effective cyber threat intelligence, but the best way to do so is by implementing all variations of the strategic, tactical, operational, and technical elements.

Let’s explore a deeper insight into ‌why everyone should be concerned about the rise in phishing crimes.

Why should you be worried about phishing?

Phishing is a cyber assault in which people are tricked into providing personal information such as login passwords or credit card details via bogus emails or websites. A phishing attack’s purpose is ‌to steal money or data from the victim. Phishing attacks are ‌simple to execute and can be challenging to detect.

According to an FBI report, phishing caused over $4 billion in losses in 2020. Phishing attacks include cybercriminals sending emails or other communications that appear to be from a natural source, such as a well-known firm or organisation. These emails frequently include links or attachments that, when clicked, either install malware on the victim’s computer or lead the victim to a malicious website.

Phishing attacks may be difficult to detect because they frequently use spoofed email addresses and websites nearly identical to the real ones. Furthermore, phishing emails are frequently tailored to be from a trustworthy contact.

As a result, phishing poses a significant risk to individuals and enterprises. Phishing is a serious threat to both individuals and businesses for these reasons.

The different ‌phishing attacks

Spear Phishing

This is a type of phishing that occurs when someone impersonates a legitimate organisation or person to trick the recipient into clicking on a malicious link or attachment. They often target this attack at specific individuals or organisations, and the attackers will use personal information to make their emails seem more authentic.

Whaling

Whaling is preying on high-level executives and other significant corporations. “whaling” refers to these criminals’ pursuit of large fish. They accomplish this by sending spear-phishing emails that look to be from reputable sources, such as a government agency or a well-known corporation.

Website Spoofing

Website spoofing is a phishing attack where people are tricked into entering personal information on a bogus website. This fraud is typically done by impersonating the main website, such as a bank or e-commerce site.

The consequences of falling for a phishing scam

Phishing schemes are growing more complex and even computer-savvy people can become victims. If you provide your personal or financial information, you may find yourself with fraudulent charges on your credit card, false claims on your identity, and a ruined credit score. In the worst-case situation, phishing might cause identity theft.

That is why it is critical to be cautious while using the internet and never to share personal or financial information unless you are sure they are real.

How to protect yourself

Keep an eye out for strange emails or messages that appear to be from a real business. These emails frequently contain typos or other errors, so double-check before clicking any links. Even if the request looks to come from a reliable source, avoid disclosing personal information online.

Finally, maintain your internet security software up to date and do frequent scans to guarantee that your PC is malware-free. You may help protect yourself from being a victim of a phishing attack by following these easy measures.

Conclusion

In conclusion, phishing is one of the most significant cyber threat intelligence threats because it can ‌access sensitive information, including login credentials and financial information.

It can be challenging to identify and much more difficult to defend against, but phishing attempts can be avoided with proper planning and monitoring.

To protect yourself from phishing attacks, it is essential to be aware of the signs of a phishing email, such as misspellings, unexpected attachments, and links to unfamiliar websites.