How to Recognize and Prevent Phishing Attacks
ARIAS IT Team
ARIAS Information Technology
What Is Phishing?
Phishing is a type of social engineering attack where criminals attempt to trick people into revealing sensitive information or taking harmful actions. These attacks typically come via email, but can also occur through text messages, phone calls, or social media.
Common Signs of Phishing
Suspicious Sender Address
Look carefully at the sender's email address. Attackers often use addresses that look similar to legitimate ones but with small differences (example: amaz0n.com instead of amazon.com).
Urgent or Threatening Language
Phishing emails often create a sense of urgency: "Your account will be closed!" or "Immediate action required!" Legitimate organizations rarely demand immediate action via email.
Requests for Sensitive Information
Legitimate companies will not ask for passwords, Social Security numbers, or financial information via email.
Poor Grammar and Spelling
While not always the case, many phishing emails contain obvious spelling or grammatical errors.
Suspicious Links
Hover over links (without clicking) to see the actual destination. If it does not match the displayed text or looks suspicious, do not click.
Unexpected Attachments
Be cautious of unexpected attachments, especially from unknown senders. Malware is often delivered through email attachments.
What to Do If You Suspect Phishing
Building a Human Firewall
Technical controls are important, but your employees are your first line of defense. Regular security awareness training and simulated phishing exercises help build a security-conscious culture.
Layered Protection
Effective phishing prevention combines:
Need help protecting your organization from phishing? Contact us for a security assessment.
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