It’s important to know your enemy by sight and to be able to quickly recognize his tactics. That’s why we’ll talk about the types of phishing and how to spot it below.

Mail Phishing

Mail phishing, also known as email phishing, is a type of online scam where attackers send fake email messages to try to trick people into giving away sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card information. These messages are designed to look legitimate, often using the branding and language of well-known companies or organizations. The goal of the attackers is to persuade the recipient to click on a link or open an attachment in the email, which will then take them to a fake website where they are prompted to enter their personal information.

Mail phishing is a common and effective tactic for attackers, as it allows them to reach a large number of people quickly and inexpensively. It can be difficult to identify a phishing email, as the attackers often go to great lengths to make the message and website appear legitimate. However, there are a few signs that can help you identify a potential phishing attack:

• The email is from an unfamiliar sender, or is from someone you know but the message seems out of character for them.
• The email includes an urgent or threatening language, such as “Your account will be closed unless you take action now”.
• The email includes a link or attachment that you were not expecting.
• The email asks you to provide personal information, such as login credentials or credit card information.

If you receive an email that you suspect may be a phishing attempt, the best course of action is to not click on any links or open any attachments, and to report the message to the appropriate authorities. This will help to prevent others from falling for the same attack and will provide valuable information to help authorities track down and stop the attackers.

Fake website

A fake website is a website that is designed to look legitimate, but is actually a scam designed to trick people into giving away sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card information. These websites are often created by attackers as part of a phishing or other online scam, and are designed to mimic the branding and appearance of legitimate websites in order to trick people into believing they are genuine.

Fake websites can be difficult to identify, as the attackers will often go to great lengths to make the website look authentic. However, there are a few signs that can help you spot a fake website:

• The website has a domain name that is similar to a legitimate website, but with a slightly different spelling or with additional characters added. For example, a fake website might use the domain “paypa1.com” instead of “paypal.com”.
• The website includes typos or other errors that would not be present on a legitimate website.
• The website does not use a secure connection (https) when asking for sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card information.
• The website does not have a privacy policy or other information that would be expected on a legitimate website.

If you encounter a website that you suspect may be fake, it’s important not to provide any sensitive information and to report the website to the appropriate authorities. This will help to prevent others from falling for the same scam and will provide valuable information to help authorities track down and stop the attackers.

Targeted phishing

Targeted phishing, also known as spear phishing, is a type of online scam where attackers specifically target individuals or organizations in order to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial information. Unlike traditional phishing attacks, which are sent to large numbers of people in the hopes of tricking a few into falling for the scam, targeted phishing attacks are carefully planned and customized to target specific individuals or organizations.

Targeted phishing attacks are often more difficult to identify than traditional phishing attacks, as the attackers will go to great lengths to make the message and website appear legitimate. They may use personal information about the target, such as their name, job title, or company, to make the message seem more convincing. They may also use a fake email address that is similar to a legitimate one, but with a slightly different spelling or with additional characters added.

To avoid falling for a targeted phishing attack, it’s important to be on the lookout for suspicious email messages and to carefully examine the sender’s email address. Do not click on any links or open any attachments in the email unless you are certain they are safe. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of the message, it’s better to contact the sender directly to verify its authenticity. Additionally, be cautious when providing personal information online, and only do so on websites that you trust. If you receive a message that looks like it could be a targeted phishing attack, report it to the appropriate authorities.

Voice Phishing

Voice phishing, also known as vishing, is a type of scam where attackers use phone calls or voice messages to try to trick people into giving away sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card information. In a typical vishing attack, the attacker will call or leave a voice message pretending to be from a legitimate company or organization, such as a bank or government agency. The goal of the attacker is to persuade the recipient to provide personal information or to transfer money to a fraudulent account.

Voice phishing attacks can be difficult to identify, as the attackers will often use fake caller ID information and may even have access to personal information about the target, such as their name and address. However, there are a few signs that can help you identify a potential vishing attack:

• The caller claims to be from a legitimate company or organization, but you do not have an account with them or have not recently interacted with them.
• The caller uses urgent or threatening language, such as “Your account has been compromised” or “You will be arrested unless you pay a fine”.
• The caller asks you to provide personal information, such as login credentials or credit card information.
• The caller asks you to transfer money to a different account.

If you receive a phone call or voice message that you suspect may be a vishing attack, do not provide any personal information or transfer any money. Instead, hang up and contact the company or organization directly to verify the legitimacy of the call. If you are unsure about the caller’s identity, you can also contact your bank or credit card provider to alert them to the potential scam. It’s also a good idea to report the vishing attempt to the appropriate authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission, to help prevent others from falling for the same scam.

SMS phishing, also known as smishing, is a type of scam where attackers use text messages to try to trick people into giving away sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card information. In a typical smishing attack, the attacker will send a text message that appears to be from a legitimate company or organization, such as a bank or government agency. The goal of the attacker is to persuade the recipient to click on a link in the message, which will take them to a fake website where they are prompted to enter their personal information.

SMS phishing

SMS phishing attacks can be difficult to identify, as the attackers will often use familiar branding and language in the text message in order to make it seem legitimate. However, there are a few signs that can help you identify a potential smishing attack:

• The text message is from an unfamiliar sender, or is from someone you know but the message seems out of character for them.
• The text message includes a link or asks you to provide personal information.
• The text message uses urgent or threatening language, such as “Your account will be closed unless you take action now”.
• The text message includes a short URL or uses a URL shortening service, which can make it difficult to verify the legitimacy of the link.

If you receive a text message that you suspect may be a smishing attack, do not click on any links or provide any personal information. Instead, delete the message and report it to the appropriate authorities. This will help to prevent others from falling for the same scam and will provide valuable information to help authorities track down and stop the attackers.

Phishing in social networks

Phishing attacks can also occur on social networking sites, where attackers use fake profiles or messages to try to trick people into giving away sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial information. In a typical phishing attack on a social networking site, the attacker will create a fake profile that appears to be from a legitimate person or organization, and will then use that profile to send messages or friend requests to other users. The goal of the attacker is to persuade the recipient to click on a link or provide personal information, which will then be used for fraudulent purposes.

To avoid falling for a phishing attack on a social networking site, it’s important to be cautious when accepting friend requests or responding to messages from people you do not know. Be on the lookout for suspicious messages or profiles, and do not click on any links or provide personal information unless you are certain they are safe. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of a message or profile, it’s better to contact the person or organization directly to verify their identity. Additionally, make sure to use strong and unique passwords for your social networking accounts, and enable two-factor authentication if it is available.

Protection measures against phishing?

Phishing is a type of online scam where attackers try to trick you into providing them sensitive information, such as your login credentials or credit card information. To avoid falling for a phishing attack, there are a few things you can do:

1. Be on the lookout for suspicious email messages, especially those that ask you to click on a link or provide personal information.
2. Pay attention to the sender’s email address. If it looks suspicious or does not match the name of the person or organization it claims to be from, it could be a phishing attempt.
3. Don’t click on links in email messages or open attachments unless you are certain they are safe. If you are unsure, it’s better to contact the sender directly to verify the authenticity of the message.
4. Be cautious when providing personal information online, especially on unfamiliar websites.
5. If you receive a message that looks like it could be a phishing attempt, do not respond to it. Instead, report it to the appropriate authorities, such as your email provider or the website where the attack originated.

Let’s go a bit more in depth on each step

1. Be on the lookout for suspicious email messages: Phishing attacks often come in the form of email messages that look legitimate, but are actually attempts to trick you into giving away your personal information. These messages may appear to be from a company you do business with, a government agency, or even a friend or colleague. However, they can also be from unknown senders who are trying to impersonate someone else. To avoid falling for a phishing attack, be on the lookout for email messages that look suspicious or seem out of character for the sender.
2. Pay attention to the sender’s email address: One of the easiest ways to identify a phishing attack is to look at the sender’s email address. In many cases, attackers will use a fake email address that is similar to a legitimate one, but with a slightly different spelling or with additional characters added. For example, the email address “[email protected]” may be altered to “[email protected]” or “[email protected]“. By paying attention to the sender’s email address, you can often spot these fake addresses and avoid falling for the phishing attack.
3. Don’t click on links in email messages: Another common tactic used in phishing attacks is to include a link in the email message that, when clicked, will take you to a fake website that is designed to steal your personal information. To avoid falling for this type of attack, do not click on any links in email messages unless you are certain they are safe. If you are unsure, it’s better to contact the sender directly to verify the authenticity of the message and the link.
4. Be cautious when providing personal information online: In some cases, a phishing attack may not include a link or attachment, but instead will ask you to provide personal information directly, such as by filling out a form or responding to a message. In these situations, it’s important to be cautious and only provide personal information on websites that you trust. If you are unsure about a website, do some research to verify its legitimacy before providing any sensitive information.
5. Report phishing attempts: If you receive a message that looks like it could be a phishing attempt, do not respond to it. Instead, report it to the appropriate authorities, such as your email provider or the website where the attack originated. This will help to prevent others from falling for the same attack and will also provide valuable information to help authorities track down and stop the attackers.