Phishing Prevention and Signs You’ve Been Hacked  

Phishing attacks remain one of the most common and dangerous cyber threats that persist in our digitized world. Consider this statistic:  roughly 15 billion spam emails traverse the internet every day and about 90% of data breaches result from phishing.   

What consequences will you face with a successful phishing attack? From compromised credentials to reputational damage, legal actions, and non-compliance penalties. This makes phishing prevention a necessity, not a luxury.   

There is no specific template that all phishing email follows, however, there are tell-tale signs that can assist you in recognizing such attacks. Read on to identify the crucial measures you can take to thwart phishing attempts and uncover key indicators that may suggest that you have unfortunately been hacked. With this knowledge, you can safeguard yourself and your digital assets. 

Phishing Prevention 

• Phishing attacks are attempts by cybercriminals to trick unassuming individuals into giving out sensitive information, including usernames, passwords, financial details, and more. To shield yourself from this type of attack, you must remain vigilant and adopt the necessary precautions. 

• Empower Your Workforce to Detect Warning Signs: The foremost and pivotal action in averting phishing attacks is to impart appropriate education. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of what phishing entails and how it operates is essential. Train both yourself and your colleagues to identify red flags in suspicious emails. These indicators may include poor spelling and grammar, unusual attachments, and unfamiliar or misspelled domain names. It’s important to note that phishing techniques evolve rapidly, making it more challenging to recognize malicious emails than it was even five years ago. Scammers have moved far beyond the well-known ‘Money from a Nigerian Prince’ scam from the 90s.”  

• Conduct Internal Simulated Phishing Campaigns as an essential part of training employees to avoid falling victim to phishing attacks. In these simulated attacks, your IT department or MSSP sends out harmless, fake phishing emails to employees to assess their vulnerability and awareness. These campaigns help educate employees about the signs of phishing and train them to respond appropriately.  

• Mark External Domains. Implement a clear and visual method for marking external domains in email communications. This can be achieved by tagging emails that originate from outside the recipient’s domain, making it easier for individuals to distinguish between legitimate internal communications and potential phishing attempts.   

• Implement an Advanced Phishing Protection. Many email service providers offer advanced phishing protection using sophisticated threat detection algorithms. These algorithms analyze incoming emails for signs of phishing, including suspicious content, malicious attachments, and spoofed sender information. Leveraging these built-in protections can significantly reduce the likelihood of a successful phishing attack, as these systems can block or quarantine suspicious emails before they reach the inbox. 

• Staying current with all the latest trends and threats to your cybersecurity.  Cyber threats evolve continuously, therefore staying informed about the latest phishing techniques and trends is essential for effective protection and prevention. This knowledge will help to adapt your security measures accordingly.  

Signs You’ve Been Hacked  

Despite taking preventive measures, it’s still possible to fall victim to hacking. Many signs can point to a breach. Knowing them can help you minimize damage and take immediate action. But what are the signs to look for? 

• Unusual Account Activity:  Keep a close eye on your online accounts. If you notice unfamiliar transactions, changes in account settings, or unexpected login notifications, your account may have been compromised. Act quickly to secure your account and change your passwords.  

• Slow System Performance: A hacked computer or device may exhibit sluggish performance. Malware and unauthorized processes running in the background can consume system resources and lead to slow operation. Regularly scan your devices for malware.  

• Unexpected Pop-ups or Redirects: An excessive amount of pop-up ads, browser redirects, or the sudden appearance of new toolbars in your web browser may be indicative of malware. These intrusive elements often pave the way for phishing attacks and data theft. 

• Missing or Altered Files: The discovery of missing or tampered files may signal a compromised system. Files can be encrypted with a ransom demand, for example. Keep regular and redundant backups of your data to avoid losing valuable information.  

• Unfamiliar Programs and Accounts:  Review your installed applications and online accounts regularly. If you find unfamiliar apps or unauthorized access to your accounts, you may be a victim of hacking. Remove or disable any suspicious items and change your passwords immediately.  

Phishing prevention and recognition of the signs of a hack are essential skills nowadays. Education, vigilance, and attention will help reduce your risk of falling victim to phishing attacks. Furthermore, identifying the signs of a hack allows you to take prompt action to minimize potential damage. Cybersecurity is an ongoing effort, and partnering with a competent MSSP will greatly assist you in securing your digital assets. Contact Klik Solutions to explore the current state of your company’s cybersecurity posture and discover strategies to strengthen it today.