How to Identify a Phishing Attempt

Phishing attempts can have a large range of targets or specifically single out an individual or corporation. According to Proofpoint, 75% of organizations around the world experienced a phishing attack in 2020. While phishing isn’t new to the scene, it remains one of the most common methods of cyber crime people still frequently fall victim to.

 

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a form of cyber attack meant to trick the email recipient into providing personal information or installing malware onto their device/network.

Common characteristics of phishing attempts include:

• Demands for urgent action
• Threats of negative consequences
• Poor grammar
• Unfamiliar greetings or images 
• Inconsistent email addresses, links, and domains
• Suspicious attachments

 

Prevent Phishing

There are multiple steps to protect against phishing, including:

• Disable HTML emails
• Require encryption for telecommuting
• Install and monitor an antivirus program
• Use a spam filter
• Deploy two-factor authentication

 

To combat the threat of phishing, never:

• Confirm personal information (i.e banking or login information)
• Click on links in an email (type the url in the address bar manually)
• Use public networks
• Think you are immune

It is important to report potential phishing attacks as soon as they occur to mitigate the risk of spreading. Just because you recognize the warning signs, doesn’t mean the next person will.

Companies should also provide regular cybersecurity training to teach employees about the revolving door of online threats and safety practices. Contact the experts at JNJ to find out about our FREE Employee Cybersecurity Training.

In the event a phishing email has gotten past your lines of defense, contact us today to find out about our disaster recovery services.