How Hackers Do Phishing Attacks? Learn Steps To Avoid It

Phishing is a fraudulent act of gathering personal information about a person or entity, using deceptive e-mails and websites. It is categorized as a cyberattack, where the email recipient is attracted towards a substantial make-believe opportunity. It could include a fake request from the financial institution they hold an account in or a message from someone in their company or a huge lottery offer. The message will ask the recipient to click a link or download attachment, which is the trap.

Following up on the link or attachment will allow the attacker to access all your information and could lead to huge consequences, be it financial, personal or professional.

Phishing attack is one of the oldest and most widespread types of cyberattacks. It came into practice in the mid or late 1990s. Nearly a third of all cyberattacks which took place in 2019 involved phishing. In the case of cyber-espionage attacks, the count reached 78%. Addressing this concern, Bajaj Finserv offers Identity Theft Insurance Cover under Pocket Insurance & Subscriptions. The insurance policy provides financial coverage against losses incurred due to breach of financial information.

One of the primary reasons behind the growing instances of phishing attacks is that the perpetrators use advanced technology and tools beyond the comprehension of the common user.

Phishing kit and its functions

A phishing kit is a set of different software utilities and website resources which allows individuals to launch phishing campaigns. With the easy availability of phishing kits, cyber attackers, even with minimal technical knowledge, can effectively participate in phishing practices. These kits are usually created by experts in this illegal field of operations and usually include the following –

• Graphics and web designing tools.
• Mass emailing software (including thousands of email addresses.)
• Placeholder content.

Once a beginner installs the phishing kit, s/he proceeds to send out emails to potential victims. Certain kits of this kind also allow the attackers to spoof trusted brands and companies, increasing the chances of a recipient clicking on the provided fraudulent link.

What are the different types of phishing attack and ways to avoid them?

The 2 primary agenda behind all kinds of phishing practices are –

• Tricking the victim into handing over sensitive information.
• Making the victim download a malware.

Phishing emails can be targeted in several ways. Here are the major types of phishing –

1. Spear phishing — Here, attackers try to craft messages to target a specific individual.
2. Whaling — This is a form of spear phishing where reputed individuals of high status are targeted.
3. Search engine phishing — This includes creating a fake webpage and targeting specific keywords to spot potential victims. It leads the surfer to a fraudulent web page and keeps him hooked in it, allowing the attackers to draw confidential data.

Every individual using the internet must be aware of phishing meaning to stay protected against cyberattacks. Here are certain steps one can take to avoid being a victim to phishing acts –

• Double-checking the spelling of the URLs in email links before entering sensitive information.
• Keep an eye on URL redirects, where you might be sent to a different website with identical design.
• Check if an email received from a known source seems suspicious. Contact the source instead of replying to that particular mail.
• Refrain from posting personal data publicly on social media.

Other than phishing, you can also face financial loss due to loss of wallet and important documents in it. Bajaj Finserv offers the Wallet Care Insurance plan under Pocket Insurance & Subscriptions. This insurance policy can easily help avail financial coverage against lost or stolen wallet as well as assistance for replacement.

Being familiar with phishing meaning is not enough in today’s age. You must take safety steps to avoid phishing attacks and guide your family members to do the same. You can also ensure financial safety for yourself through an ATM assault insurance cover because in-person attackers are no less harmful than cyber attackers. Know how to safeguard against such happenstances and make sure to have a requisite insurance policy in place for the necessary financial coverage.