For example, if you receive an email from your boss requesting urgent action on a project. You won`t think much about the mailer or the source of origin of the email. You will just notice that the tone of the text is familiar, the details are spot on, and there’s even a link to “review the necessary files.” You won’t give a second thought to conforming to the request made in the mail as soon as you see them. You will act quickly and follow all the orders. You complete the task quickly as per the request and unintentionally end up revealing all the sensitive data. By the time you realize the mistake, it is too late.
How does Spear Phishing differ from Standard Phishing?
Phishing is an overarching term that describes the malicious activities of cybercriminals in which they trick individuals into revealing sensitive information including usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, or personal data. To accomplish this activity they use different types of means and communication channels such as emails, messages, calls, notifications, and website URLs. The means and methods black hats use in phishing attacks decide whether it is standard phishing or spear phishing. Here is the major difference between standard and spear phishing:
Standard Phishing
In standard phishing black hats send phishing emails to a larger number of users. The phishing text and methods follow a standard process that involves generic texts with common content such as “Your account has been locked. Click here to reset your password.” It is a common method of spreading malware and stealing sensitive information. Standard phishing campaigns target individuals from all backgrounds without making any specifications. It has lower success rates because people do not become easily convinced about the general requests asked in the text.
Spear Phishing
Spear phishing is more targeted and well-researched and it involves specific individuals and organizations. Cybercriminals collect all the important details about the targeted individuals and organizations from different sources such as social media, job roles, activities, etc. Using these details, they create personalized email text and message scripts to send their targets and convince them to provide personal information, business data, and gain access to critical accounts. It has higher success rates because messages directly speak to the individuals who are receiving the emails.
How to Recognize Spear Phishing?
In spear phishing black hats exploit the trust of the users and compel them to make hasty decisions. Recognizing a spear phishing attack becomes quite difficult for innocent users when they receive highly convincing and personalized emails. However, you can still recognize the danger of spear phishing by check-marking the following elements:
1. Personalized Information
- The email or message may reference your name, job title, or recent activities.
- It might mention contacts or professional relationships to seem trustworthy.
2. Unusual Sender Address
- Check for slight misspellings or variations in domain names (e.g., "micr0soft.com" instead of "microsoft.com").
3. Unexpected Urgency
- "Act immediately" or "urgent request" messages prompting immediate action.
- Pressure to bypass standard security procedures.
4. Suspicious Attachments or Links
- Unexpected files, especially with extensions like `.exe`, `.zip`, or `.docm`.
- Links that don’t match the visible text hover them to reveal where they lead.
5. Requests for Sensitive Information
- Asking for login credentials, financial details, or confidential company data.
- Requests to transfer funds or approve payments without following proper protocol.
6. Grammar or Tone Inconsistencies
- Odd language, unusual formality, or writing style mismatches for familiar contacts.
7. Verification Avoidance
- Pushes to prevent you from verifying through phone calls or other secure methods.
How to Prevent Spearphishing?
It can be quite challenging for the common users to detect the spoofed links, and phishing email text cybercriminals use to target specific individuals with such accuracy. The tone of the script and the accuracy of the details propel the users to take immediate actions that lead them to reveal sensitive information to the cybercriminals. But if you act rationally and do a little bit of research before taking action you can prevent the spearphishing without any error. Here are some effective tips that help you secure your privacy and personal data from malicious entities:
Be Skeptical of Unexpected Requests
Think before acting on urgent messages, especially those asking for sensitive information or fund transfers. They can be fake requests from fraudsters waiting to steal your hard-earned money and compromise your personal data, identity, or financial security.
Verify Sender Identity
When you receive an email with urgency and asking to do a critical task make sure to contact the sender directly. Use a known, trusted phone number or official channel to contact and confirm the legitimacy of the requests and tasks.
Inspect Links and Attachments
Don’t click suspicious links and open the attachments included in the emails coming from an unknown sender. Hover over the links to see the actual destination before you click them. Also, avoid downloading attachments from untrusted or unexpected sources. These small acts can save you from big troubles.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Double down your account security activating the multifactor authentication service. It prevents malicious entities from accessing your critical accounts in case you provide them login credentials in the phishing attacks. They won’t be able to access your important accounts using the primary user ID and passwords when the 2FA is actively protecting your account.
Strengthen Password Practices
Use strong, unique passwords for each account having a combination of numbers, letters, and special signs. Also, do not use the same password to protect different access points. Create unique passwords to secure each gateway. If someone got your credentials he won’t be able to access all the accounts at the same time.
Keep Systems Updated
It is highly recommended to keep your digital devices and all the running apps and programs up-to-date. New updates patch up the security vulnerabilities that grow with the passage of time when software grows old. New updates fix the software vulnerabilities and prevent bad actors from exploiting them to do any malicious activity such as malware installation, stealing of information, and accessing the device without authorization.
Use Email Security Filters
Email filters are a feasible solution to deal with phishing attacks. When you use advanced spam filters in your system it actively blocks phishing emails before they reach your inbox. This way you nip the evil in the bud.
Avoid Oversharing Information Online
Do not overshare personal and professional information on social media platforms and other public forums. Black hats use these platforms to learn about you and exploit this information to launch powerful spearphishing attacks. You can use an alternate name to remain active on social media platforms. Also, you should avoid sharing all the information on these platforms. The lesser you leave digital footprints the more difficult it becomes for the cybercriminals to find you and attack you.
Report Suspected Phishing Attempts
If you ever come across a suspicious email attached with a malicious link or attachment make sure to report it as spam. You can also notify the incident to the IT department or email provider when you encounter suspicious messages. The concerned authority will take immediate action and hunt down the real culprit. You can save others from becoming a victim.
Install Antivirus Software for Enhanced Protection
Last but not least, if you want to make your digital life secure and protect your online privacy then you should equip your internet devices with robust antivirus software. It protects you from phishing attacks, malware infections, and privacy breaches. You browse the internet securely and stay safe from unsafe links redirecting to malicious websites. It secures your every click and scans your every download to keep you safe from hidden danger.
