How to Adapt to Evolving Phishing Scams

man at keyboard protecting from phishing

There’s no doubt about it—technology makes our lives easier and more efficient. There’s never been this much access to time-saving apps and devices that make being productive a breeze. However, technology does come with its fair share of side effects, and in this case, it’s the tech-savvy criminals who are finding new ways to exploit digital advancement.

Phishing scams have been around for years, but they’re constantly evolving to become more sophisticated and difficult to spot. From scam emails to shady texts, we’re bombarded with phishing attempts at every turn.

So how can you stay ahead of the curve and protect yourself against these ever-changing scams? We’ve rounded up a list of best cybersecurity practices that can help you keep your data safe.

How Are Phishing Scams Changing?

Phishing scams are always changing to stay ahead of detection methods. Here are some recent methods phishers are using to try and steal your personal information:

  • AI and Machine Learning Attacks: Using AI and machine learning to create more realistic-looking emails and websites. This makes it even harder to spot a fake email or website from a real one.
  • Whaling: Targeting specific individuals or companies with tailored messages posing as company personnel. Hackers are able to access private information from social media, making the scam more believable and difficult to spot.
  • Website Simulations: Using website simulations to collect personal information such as login credentials and credit card numbers. Scammers may use fake websites or emails that look real but are actually designed to steal your information.
  • Social Media Hackers: Creating fake profiles or posts that trick you into clicking on a link that will take you to a fake website or download malware onto your computer. Attackers also send links to people’s DMs posing as giveaway hosts or popular influencers and celebrities.
  • Smishing: Sending text messages posing as a reputable source or company to get personal information from the receiver. Common smishing messages include fake shipping and banking notifications.

Are SMBs at Risk of Phishing Scams?

A survey commissioned by Intuit QuickBooks in March 2022 found that 42% of the SMBs that participated had been breached by a cyberattack and 17% of those attacks were caused by phishing.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are often seen as easy targets for phishing scams because they typically have less sophisticated IT infrastructure and security measures in place.  Because more than 90% of cyberattacks are caused by human error, it makes phishing scams a huge risk to your business.

Best Security Practices to Protect Your Data

Knowing the risk that phishing scams pose to SMBs can be scary, but knowledge is power! Here are some best practices you can put in place to help protect your business:

1. Educate yourself and your employees about phishing scams. Make sure everyone knows what to look for and how to report a suspicious email or website.

2. Use strong spam filters and anti-phishing software to help protect your email accounts and block malicious websites.

3. Keep your software and systems up to date with the latest security patches.

4. Create a backup of all important data in case you need to restore it after a cyberattack.

5. Never click on links or attachments from suspicious emails or websites.

6. Don’t provide personal or financial information to anyone over email or text. Only provide it over the phone if you’re sure they’re legitimate.

7. Always check the website’s URL before entering any login credentials. A fake website may have a slightly different URL than the real one, so be sure to double-check.

8. Do not reply or click on any links if you receive an email that looks suspicious, even if you think you know the sender. Forward it to your IT department or security team for further investigation.

By putting these practices into place, you can help protect your business against phishing scams and other cyberattacks.

Prevent Phishing Scams with RedNight Consulting

Although small businesses might feel like they have less data for hackers to exploit, they’re usually big targets because they often don’t invest in advanced cybersecurity. If you’re looking for an added layer of protection that will save you money, RedNight Consulting is a great option.

We offer a number of services to help businesses protect themselves against these ever-evolving threats, including:

  • Phishing awareness training for your employees
  • Email filtering and security solutions
  • Website security audits
  • Penetration testing
  • And more

To learn more about how we can help you prevent phishing scams, contact us today!