Gone phishing!

For the average IT user, it may be tricky at first to know the difference between the different types of ‘attacks’ you may be targeted with. ‘Phishing’ however, is one of the most common…

So, what exactly is phishing?

Phishing is the illegal practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to persuade individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.

What does this mean for you exactly?

Apparently, as of 2022, phishing is by far the most common attack performed by cyber criminals and typically, criminals behind a phishing attack aren’t attempting to steal money. They’re attempting to steal something potentially much more valuable: your data. Furthermore, nearly 1.5 million phishing sites are created each month and the average IT user receives around 16 attempted phishing emails each month.

What does a phishing email look like and what is the impact?

In a phishing email, often in a roundabout, subtle fashion, cyber criminals will typically ask for your:

• Date of birth
• Employment details such as NI number
• Phone numbers
• Credit card details
• Home address
• Password information (or what they will need to reset your password)

Be very careful to check that any email that you receive is legitimate and what links you click on, as there can be serious risks to both your personal data and that of your organisation, including:

• Loss of custom
• Reputational damage
• Loss of confidence in you and your organisation
• Business disruption
• Regulatory fines

Nowadays, many people have become familiar with phishing emails over time, however cyber criminals are fast becoming more savvy and sophisticated, so it is vital to remain vigilant as it is all too easy to still be caught out!

If you are concerned about phishing and the safety and security of your business, then contact us for a free IT review:

enquiries@apexcomputing.co.uk