According to a report, phishing attack is one of the biggest cyber-attacks since 2019. Phishing attacks are the most used of the main social media hacking and cider attacks in 2020-2021.
In this article, we will learn about phishing attacks, how does it happen, some of the examples of these attacks also how can you prevent them if happens.
What is Phishing Attack?
Phishing is one of the most common online scams or cyber-attack which often used to steal user data, including login credentials and credit card numbers. Through phishing attacks, hackers can hack your Facebook, Instagram and other social media accounts too.
Also, hackers can get your personal information like your mobile phone number, your address and other sensitive information that contains the value in your life.
How does phishing attack happen?
There are two phases of phishing attacks. In the first phase, hackers design an online form or a fake login web page. If hackers want to hack your Facebook account then they will design a web page just like a Facebook login page with their own URL and send it to users to sign in or fill up the form.
The fake login page will contain a different URL, which will not be similar to Facebook or other social media.
After creating this fake login page or form, hackers will send it to random people to sign in or fill up the form. When users login or fill up the form immediately hackers got the information.
In scam messages, Hackers send offers in many ways. They can offer you to win prize money, win different costly items or get followers on social media.
Types of Phishing Attacks and Examples:
Whale Phishing : This sort of phishing mostly design for only one person. Here, whale means a big fish like a CEO of a company or a personality. Hacker design this scam message or landing page for that perticular person only.
Spear Phishing : This scam is designed for a group of members or for the whole employees of a company. Hackers can get all the employees information and the sensitive informations of the company by sending spam links to that companies workers.
Smashing Phishing : In this part, hackers send a message and told to click the link and share or forword to friends or other peoples to get Iphone or a big ammout of prize money.
Vishing Phishing : Hackers design this as a voice message or send users a email and as always they offers
SEO Phishing : In this technic hackers find what are the websites a pericular user search for. When they found out, they build a website same as the website that user often use. Then they do black SEO and rank the website. After that when that user search for their desire website, Instead of the real website user got the hackers website and login. Thatâs how they collect the user information and other staffs.
How to prevent Phishing Attacks
1. Always activate your two factor authentication in social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and so on. By doing that if hackers get your username and password, so that they cannot access your account without your permission.
2. When someone send you links to enter or signin, before signing in check the link properly and the page. In fake pages hackers do many spelling mistakes and the link will be a unknown link. If you see anything wrong in the page layout or spelling mistake then always avoid it. Also, never share the link with anyone.
3. Do not click on links that you donât have any idea about. Also, do not share your personal information with anyone you donât know.
4. If you are using a website and you think it is a spam site then do check the domain authentication first. Usually, a secured website contains HTTPS before its domain name. But unsafe domains have HTTP. So make sure you verify it before submitting your information to any website.
5. Never ever click on any kind of message or offer which contains prize-winning links or something like that. Just avoid it which will be good for you. Thatâs how you can be secure from these scam attacks.
Where to report internet scams and phishing
If you get any sort of malicious message, Forward the message to [email protected].
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will investigate it. Or, Forward the text message to 7726 â itâs free. This will report the message to your mobile phone provider.
Report scam or misleading adverts to the Advertising Standards Authority. You can report adverts found online, including in search engines, websites or on social media.
You can also report scam or misleading adverts to Google if you found them in Google search results, or report to Bing if you found them in Bing search results.
Conclusions
Phishing attacks are the most common attack on Cyber Security. Many people have lost their money and properties for these scams. You cannot stop hackers to do this staff but we can do protect ourselves. Our own intelligence and vigilance can protect us from such attacks. So be careful at all times and if you get any email or malicious link from a stranger, avoid and report.
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