Happy New Year 2023! As we ring in the new year, it's important to stay vigilant against online threats such as phishing, typosquatting and social engineering attacks. These types of attacks can be costly and time-consuming to deal with, and they can compromise your personal and financial information. In this blog, we'll take a look at what they are, how they work, and most importantly, how to protect yourself from them. Whether you're a seasoned internet user, a beginner or an employee, there's something here for everyone. So let's get started!
Here is a short 10-minute guide on phishing attacks, typosquatting, and social engineering:
Phishing attacks: Phishing attacks are a common form of cybercrime that involves sending fraudulent emails or text messages in an attempt to trick people into giving away sensitive information, such as passwords or financial information.
Scenario: You receive an email from your bank asking you to click on a link and enter your login credentials. The email looks legitimate, but it is actually a phishing attack.
Prevention: To prevent being victimized by a phishing attack, be wary of any unsolicited emails or text messages that ask for sensitive information. Don't click on any links or download any attachments from unfamiliar sources. If you receive an email or text message from a financial institution or other organization that you do business with, do not respond to it directly. Instead, go to the organization's website directly to verify the request.
Typosquatting: Typosquatting is a form of cybercrime that involves creating fake websites that are similar to legitimate websites, but with slightly different spelling or domain names. The goal is to trick people into visiting the fake website and entering sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial information.
Scenario: You receive an email that appears to be from your bank, with a link to a website that looks legitimate. However, the link is actually to a fake website that was created by a typosquatter.
Prevention: To prevent being victimized by typosquatting, be careful when entering your login credentials or financial information on websites. Make sure that the website is legitimate by checking the URL and verifying that it is the same as the one you usually use.
Social engineering: Social engineering is a form of cybercrime that involves using psychological manipulation to trick people into divulging sensitive information or performing actions that could compromise their security.
Scenario: You receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from your bank, who tells you that your account has been compromised and asks you to provide your login credentials to fix the problem.
Prevention: To prevent being victimized by social engineering, be wary of any unsolicited phone calls or in-person requests for sensitive information. Do not give out your login credentials or other sensitive information over the phone or in-person to someone you do not know. If you receive a phone call from an organization that you do business with, hang up and call the organization directly to verify the request.
Key elements to these forms of attacks:
Unsolicited emails or text messages
Requests for sensitive information
Fake websites or links
Psychological manipulation
Unsolicited phone calls or in-person requests
To detect these forms of attacks, be on the lookout for any of these key elements and use caution when responding to emails, text messages, or phone calls from unfamiliar sources. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of a request, do not respond to it and instead verify it through a trusted source. If you are afraid you might have been a victim of any of these attacks contact us at (956) 704 0999 or email us at ir@ghost-sys.com