2 Best Methods Of Identifying and Avoiding Phishing Scams

Phishing attacks are one of the most common security challenges companies face in keeping their data secure.

There are countless ways for hackers to gain access to your data.

Hackers attack your network by attempting to access passwords, credit card numbers, email addresses, social media credentials, website login, and other communications.

Hackers are relentless and will attempt to steal any sort of data they can. You and your users are by no means immune, and because any business that keeps electronic files or records is suspect, you need a plan to prepare to fight against these technology problems.

We’ve created some educational content to help you understand and prepare for potential phishing attacks.

How companies fall victim to phishing attacks.

There are two common ways that businesses end up being the prey to a phishing attack.

1. Not having the right tools in place to prevent these before they reach users.
2. Failure to properly train employees and staff on how to avoid social engineering attacks.

In today’s digital world employees have incredible power and responsibility. Depending on their roles within your Los Angeles-based company, they may have access to things like customer data, login credentials, and even financial information.

Your employees and staff need to know how to use their knowledge if and when a hacker attacks.

Hackers are smart.

When you fall prey to phishing or hacking scams, there are a few things to look for.

They’ll try to obtain data using any means they can. The purpose of scams, like phishing, is for hackers to collect sensitive information from you and your network. They use this information to gain additional access to otherwise protected data.

A phishing scammer’s success is determined by way of establishing false trust with those involved.

Here are a few techniques used by attackers to extrapolate information from you and your team.

1. Embedding links in emails that redirect employees to an unsecured website.
2. Installing a Trojan virus, malicious attachment through email, or some sort of clickable ad that gives the intruder access to exploit security loopholes.
3. Requesting sensitive information by attempting to spoof the sender’s email address and content with links or attachments.
4. Impersonating a known vendor or IT department in an attempt to get company information over the phone or internet.

As you can see, some of the methods are very cunning and equally deceitful. They can be missed by employees and team members if you’re not aware of them. Knowing these methods and how to counteract them will prevent harm to you and your clients or customers.

How To Avoid Attacks.

While there are dozens of steps to help fend off phishing attacks, here are the eight most straightforward steps you can take to attempt to prevent phishing attacks.

• Educate. Inform your staff and conduct training sessions with mock scenarios, and empower them to be smart online.
• Implement and deploy. Implement and deploy SPAM filters that detect viruses and blank senders. If your internal IT team doesn’t know how to do this, then outsource this piece of your IT to a firm like DigiSync to help.
• Stay current. Make sure your systems stay current with technology standards and IT patches.
• Remote managed antivirus. Install a managed antivirus solution that schedules updates, and monitors the anti-virus status on all equipment.
• Document your IT policies. Craft and document a security policy that includes mandatory password expiration and complexity. This kind of plan and process will help you avoid the pain of not having one.
• Web filters. Implement and deploy a web filter that blocks suspicious websites.
• Encrypt information. Encrypt all sensitive company information, especially employee data, customer files, and financial information.
• Keep your mobile devices protected. Mandate encryption for mobile devices and remote workstations.

There are other steps you and your team can take to prevent and protect yourself phishing attacks, but the bottom line is this: you and your IT department need to stay vigilant and adopt strategies to test your security policies that will eliminate vulnerabilities.

It’s just as crucial to ensure your employees understand the how and why of phishing attacks, the risks involved, and how to address them.

Informed employees, properly secured systems, and properly tested networks and users are the best way to fend off attempts to steal what’s most important to your organization: Your data.

Be safe, not sorry.

Now that you know a bit more about how to avoid hacking and phishing scams inside your Los Angeles business, learn more about how we can help. Email us here to learn more about how we can help your business make your data a priority.