Ways You Can Avoid Spear Phishing Attacks

Spear phishing elevates things to a whole new level by focusing on a single individual.

Fremont, CA: The COVID-19 outbreak provided an ideal setting for spear-phishing attempts. Cybercriminals could send numerous spear-phishing emails each day by taking advantage of remote working, virtual communication, and the anxiety surrounding the outbreak.

Through automated emails, standard phishing targets a massive number of victims with generally poor outcomes. Spear phishing elevates things to a whole new level by focusing on a single individual. The criminals research their target by scouring social media profiles or corporate websites to mimic a trusted source, such as a manager or coworker.

Ways you can avoid spear phishing attacks

• Secure your personal information

Cybercriminals utilize the information users offer on the internet to gain their confidence and pull anyone in. Keep all social media accounts confidential so users know who can view what, and be cautious about what users publish.

Locking down personal passwords is also essential for mitigating the effects of these assaults. A password manager generates secure, unique passwords. As a result, even if a fraudster obtains the login credentials, it will not jeopardize any other accounts.

• Bolster your email security

By putting possible risks and spam into a different inbox for the user or the IT department to evaluate, spam filters on the email server can help limit the number of phishing emails users get. They are often straightforward to enable and are accessible on most email servers.

However, as fraudsters become more proficient — and most phishing emails become more human-like — it is simpler to circumvent this protective mechanism. Like Egress Defend, human layer security solutions can warn users before they fall victim to a phishing assault, providing additional protection.

• Keep your system security up to date

Although it is a basic solution, constantly updating the operating system might help users combat spear phishing. Patches are often included with software upgrades to address any security flaws. Without these fixes, any device is a breeding ground for malware.

Reliable, up-to-date anti-malware solutions are another critical component of phishing protection. These will detect spear-phishing emails now at the security gateway and eliminate the need for users to worry concerning them.