Introduction
The issue is that people are the weakest link in the security chain, which everyone in the cybersecurity field knows. So, phishing simulations and training were crucial in keeping the company safe from cyber threats.
Why phishing is the most prevalent and costly attack vector for cybercriminals to exploit.
Phishing attacks could financially affect the organisation, where each successful phishing attack could cost $3.7 million, according to IT Governance. The APWG recorded over 200,000 phishing attempts in April 2021, almost doubling to 384,291 by March 2022. The UK government website shows that In 2022 Phishing attempts, 83% of UK organisations discovered an attack, making it clear that this type of fraud is becoming an increasingly lucrative business for criminals online.
What is the common mistake made by BUSINESS?
Using generic phishing emails to evaluate a company’s cybersecurity training programme is, according to our subject-matter experts, one of the most common mistakes made by businesses. This could lead to false negatives since employees may be able to spot a generic phishing email but fall for one that wasn’t in the test. Another reason is that scammers continuously refine their methods and adopt new ones swiftly. However, combine training with the most up-to-date strategy with other training methods, such as utilising realistic testing with emails that match the most recent patterns. You will have a better grasp of how secure your company is.
How to reduce phishing attempts?
1.Do not click on suspicious links or attachments in email.
- Phishing emails are designed to be clicked by the victim links and downloading malware, which could give them access to your computer and personal information.
- If you get an email that looks like it’s from a company you’re doing business with, do some research before responding or visiting the site it links to—if you can’t find a phone number or email address for the company on their official website, then be very wary of any other contact details they might provide through email
2.Do not send sensitive personal or organisational data via email.
Further, do not respond with the requested data if the employee receives an email asking for sensitive information. Instead, contact the organisation’s security department to report the suspicious request and determine whether it is legitimate or a scam attempt.
3. Only download email attachments from known, trusted sources.
Further, do not respond with the requested data if the employee receives an email asking for sensitive information. Instead, contact the organisation’s security department to report the suspicious request and determine whether it is legitimate or a scam attempt.
3. Only download email attachments from known, trusted sources.
- Read the email and its attachments carefully, checking for any suspicious links or attachments.
4. Report it!
If you see a phishing email, do not respond to it. Forward the email to [email protected] if you are in the UK or some companies have a report phishing button. You can also forward suspicious emails to your IT department for further investigation.
5. Before you click, pause and reflect
- Before you click that link or give out your information, think about what the email is asking for and why. Don’t get distracted by flashy graphics or dramatic language. If it sounds like a scam, it almost certainly is.
- Always check with an IT professional before opening any attachments in emails from unknown sources.
6. Visit Only known and verified websites that have been offered by a trusted source.
7. Do not visit a website by clicking on links in emails or texts; instead, access it directly through your browser.
We have mentioned before that phishing attacks are often carried out via email and text messages. These messages may contain links to fraudulent websites, which can trick you into providing your personal information. If you visit a link in an email or text message and are asked to log in to your account, do not enter your login credentials. Instead, close the message and contact the company directly using another method of communication (e.g., phone) to verify whether it was legitimate.
8. Keep your computer’s operating system and applications up-to-date with the latest security patches and/or service packs to protect against newly discovered vulnerabilities
A great way to improve your defenses against phishing attacks is to keep all of the software on your device updated, including web browsers, antivirus programs, operating systems and third party apps. Newer versions may offer additional defenses against phishing attacks that can help prevent you from being tricked into giving away sensitive information or downloading malicious files.
9. Provide workforce training on the above points; repeat training regularly (and eventually introduce more advanced topics).
To ensure the employees are on top of the attacker game, provide workforce training on the above points; repeat training regularly (and eventually introduce more advanced topics). Simply the attacker is a creative thinker. You can do more by contacting kindyana cyber security to get( online and face-to-face ) phishing taught courses and phishing simulator.
Human are a weakest link in cyber security, phishing training is essential to reduce cyber attacks.
Phishing attacks can be highly effective because they frequently appear to be the real thing; you may not even realise you’ve been targeted until it’s too late. Proper training on how they work would help reduce these incidents by training people how simple it is for everyone to perform their duties. If they don’t know what to look for when getting an email or text message from someone pretending to be someone else, they could fall victim regardless of their level of computer proficiency.
The best way to reduce this risk is to Train your employees and make them aware of the risks associated with clicking on malicious links.
Phishing attacks can be extraordinarily sophisticated, but their strategies are typically straightforward. In a phishing attack, a malicious actor will send their victim an email or text message that appears to originate from an official source. The objective is to get you to click on a link or download a file containing malware that can steal your information or infect your computer. However, when staff are informed on how these assaults operate and what messages they should be on the lookout for, they will be better able to identify phishing attempts and avoid becoming victims. The sooner they learn to recognise possible risks, the better!
Phishing simulation and phishing training are two sides of the same coin and are both very important in protecting your company against cyber threats.
Phishing simulations assess how well individuals can recognise phishing attempts. It is similar to taking an exam to determine whether you can pass it before being asked to take it. Phishing training, on the other hand, educates staff on how to recognise and avoid phishing emails and messages.
Simulation is crucial because it gives you insight into how susceptible your employees are to phishing attacks.
Consider running a simulation if you want to test your employees’ ability to recognise a phishing attack. In this scenario, you can send out fake emails and see how the recipients react. If they fall for it and provide personal information or click on links that lead to malicious sites, they’ll have trouble recognising actual phishing attempts later. By running these simulations regularly, you’ll be able to identify which employees are more susceptible to being tricked by phishing scams—and improve their training accordingly.
Phishing simulation and training are complementary programs that can help protect your company from cybercriminals.
A phishing simulation is a form of exercise that helps employees prepare for an actual phishing attack by allowing them to practise their response. The purpose of these activities is to teach employees how to identify and avoid suspicious emails, links, and attachments that occur in their inboxes. For instance, if a buddy sends you an email asking you to open a file containing personal information (such as a resume), you should not click any links or open the attachment. Because it may contain malware built just for your computer, or even worse, software that may infect other machines once yours has been compromised!
For more information about phishing simulations and how they work with training programs like ours please reach out through our website contact form or give us a call at 00447874 244785
Conclusion
Thus, we can clearly assert that the best defence against phishing attacks is user awareness training, which enables employees to recognise the warning indications of a phishing email and avoid falling victim to criminals. But it would help if you relied on something other than this method because it might not work against sophisticated attacks that use new ways to trick users into giving their sensitive information like passwords and account credentials. Also, it’s important not to think that people who have been trained won’t ever be victims. Even professionals like journalists, surgeons, and financial experts can make mistakes when faced with unexpected situations because they are simply humans!
