Understanding Phishing Attacks

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a type of social engineering attack where attackers attempt to trick users into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal data.

Common Types of Phishing

• Email Phishing: Fraudulent emails that appear to come from legitimate sources
• Spear Phishing: Targeted attacks aimed at specific individuals or organizations
• Whaling: Phishing attacks targeting high-profile individuals like executives
• Smishing: Phishing via SMS text messages
• Vishing: Voice phishing conducted over phone calls

How to Identify Phishing

• Check the sender's email address carefully
• Look for grammatical errors and typos
• Hover over links to see the actual URL
• Be suspicious of urgent requests
• Verify requests through alternate channels

Protection Measures

Organizations should implement multi-layered defense including employee training, email filtering, and regular phishing simulations using tools like GoPhish.