Despite all the advances in cybersecurity, phishing remains one of the most effective—and dangerous—ways for attackers to breach businesses. According to recent studies, over 90% of data breaches begin with a phishing email. And it’s not just about shady spam messages anymore. Phishing attacks have become more targeted, more convincing, and more expensive to recover from.
Understanding the techniques behind phishing is your first step to defense.
What it is: Attackers spoof or compromise a company executive’s email to trick employees into making payments or sharing sensitive information.
Red flags:
Unusual payment requests
Urgency or secrecy ("Please handle this discreetly")
Slight misspellings in email addresses
Pro Tip: Always verify large requests by phone or through another internal channel.
What it is: Targeted emails that appear to come from someone you know or trust, often personalized with your name, company, or role.
Red flags:
Personalized yet unexpected messages
Attachments from unfamiliar senders
Links that don’t match the domain they appear to be from
Pro Tip: Hover over links before clicking. Use preview tools or email security platforms to analyze content.
What it is: Attackers copy a legitimate email you’ve already received, then resend it with malicious attachments or links.
Red flags:
Identical formatting to a previous email, but with altered links
Urging you to open an updated file or re-click a link
Pro Tip: If you’ve already acted on an email, double-check with the original sender before responding to a new version.
What it is: Cybercriminals use phone calls pretending to be IT support, banks, or even law enforcement to trick users into giving up information.
Red flags:
Calls from unknown numbers asking for credentials
Requests for MFA codes or login info
Pro Tip: Never share personal or login information over a phone call you didn’t initiate. Hang up and call the official number.
What it is: Fraudulent messages sent via text (SMS) with malicious links or requests for personal information.
Red flags:
Texts claiming you've won something or missed a delivery
URLs shortened with tools like bit.ly
Pro Tip: Never click links in texts from unknown senders. Always access accounts through the official app or website.
What it is: Fake ads on legitimate websites that lead to phishing websites or install malware.
Red flags:
Pop-ups offering free software, prizes, or security alerts
Ads redirecting you to unfamiliar URLs
Pro Tip: Use an ad blocker and train users not to trust pop-up “alerts” or download offers.
What it is: Phishing emails or ads send you to a login page that looks exactly like your bank, Microsoft 365, or another service—but it’s a fake.
Red flags:
Login pages with unusual URLs
Emails that say “your account is locked” with a link to fix it
Pro Tip: Always type login URLs manually or use password managers—they won’t fill in fake sites.
Technology helps, but people are your first line of defense. Regular phishing simulations and training can reduce click rates by over 70%. Combine user education with tools like:
Advanced email filtering
Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Real-time link scanning
Want to test your team’s phishing awareness?
Contact us to schedule a free phishing simulation and cybersecurity training session.