--- title: "Establishing Phishing Prevention Best Practices Is Crucial To Thwart Cyber Attacks Launched By Threat Actors! | DuoCircle" description: "Join the thousands of organizations that use DuoCircle Find out how affordable it is for your organization today and be pleasantly surprised.Interested in" image: "https://www.duocircle.com/images/og-default.png" canonical: "https://www.duocircle.com/content/email-phishing-prevention/phishing-prevention-best-practices/" --- Content # Establishing Phishing Prevention Best Practices Is Crucial To Thwart Cyber Attacks Launched By Threat Actors! Phishing prevention best practices include using anti-spam and anti-phishing software, installing antivirus programs and firewalls, scrutinizing URL links and unsolicited emails, and enforcing strong password protection while avoiding removable media on official systems. Email authentication with SPF detects forged or spoofed senders, and employee training with simulated phishing exercises addresses the human element, including targeted spear-phishing attempts. [ Talk to an Expert → ](/contact/) [ See what we make ](/products/) ## Establishing Phishing Prevention Best Practices Is Crucial To Thwart Cyber Attacks Launched By Threat Actors! [Phishing Protection - Sign Up](/email/phishing-protection) In general, _any email account could be receiving several phishing emails per month_. ‘Phishing’ is a broad term that mostly applies to organizations and must be deeply understood to develop and maintain **phishing prevention best practices**. Spear phishing is a term used specifically for phishing that targets certain individuals. **Phishing attacks** are known to occur when an email is designed and sent in a particular manner by malicious actors to manipulate the recipient and make them click dubious links or open malicious attachments. Although _maintaining best practices to avoid phishing attacks looks complicated_, it’s simple and a matter of common sense. ![email phishing prevention](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2021/01/anti-phishing-message.png) ### How To Detect Phishing Attacks? Sometimes it is tricky to [identify phishing attacks](https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams) if malicious actors use sophisticated methods. Such cases require professional anti-spam and anti-virus software and reputed email clients. However, the following information could help in detecting a **phishing email** quickly. - _Scrutinize URL links_. They could closely resemble the genuine URL of an organization but could be malicious. - Any authorized resource of an organization **will not send unsolicited emails**. - Any legitimate organization’s email doesn’t usually force you to visit their links or websites urgently. - _An email with silly spelling or grammatical errors is most probably malicious_ though pretending to be legitimate. - An email by a legitimate organization **never asks for your credentials** or sensitive information. By looking at the above factors, one knows that it only takes an untrained person to be trapped. _Ensure proper training of employees and test them with simulated phishing examples_. It’s an exercise of [how to mitigate phishing attacks](/content/email-phishing-prevention/how-to-mitigate-phishing-attacks) at the ground level. MORE : [How to detect phishing attacks](/content/email-phishing-prevention/how-to-detect-phishing-attacks)? ### How To Prevent Phishing And Spoofing With Phishing Prevention Best Practices? For a full protection umbrella, do follow these [best phishing protection](/content/email-phishing-prevention/best-phishing-protection) practices recommended by cyber experts. #### Always Use The Right Prevention Tools Always look for the right tools, such as anti-spam software and [phishing prevention software](/content/email-phishing-prevention/phishing-prevention-software). You can analyze the costs and go for an option that provides the required features. For instance, [email phishing prevention](/content/email-phishing-prevention) software combined with spam protection, malware, and ransomware can offer advanced **security against phishing** attacks. The essential anti-phishing software only helps you examine emails with suspicious attachments and links. #### Develop Proper PC Protection _You should properly maintain your PCs to secure confidential data_. Proper PC protection can be supported by installing a robust anti-virus program and a firewall to **prevent malicious intrusions**. Firewall installation is essential as it blocks malicious network traffic and only allows entry to legitimate emails. And efficient anti-virus software helps correctly scan the email, extract any viruses present, and prevent access to the computer. #### Be Alert Of Infectious Emails As mentioned earlier, _you should pre-examine an email by checking various factors_. The spelling or grammatical mistakes and infectious links are the common factors indicative of **phishing threats**. Hence, one has to _avoid opening links and attachments sent by unknown entities_. Using the [TLS/SSL certificate](https://www.ssl.com/guide/protect-yourself-from-phishing/) and digitally signing confidential emails can also add additional security. Digital certification helps security software and programs to identify emails as secure as malicious actors cannot alter their content or attachments. One of the most significant **phishing prevention best practices** is the SPF or Sender Policy Framework, an email authentication tool to detect forged or spoofed emails. _SPF is an answer to the question of [how to prevent phishing and spoofing](/content/email-phishing-prevention/how-to-prevent-phishing-and-spoofing) at the same time_. #### Get Strong Password Protection And Avoid Usage Of Removable Media _Password protection should not be ignored and wisely taken care of using strong characters_. Also, avoid storing your passwords on browsers. This aspect may not be directly harmful but can severely impact if your system gets compromised by a malicious actor. Removable media such as USB drives, SD cards, iPods, or MP3 players must strictly be not used with official systems. If their use is inevitable, ensure proper scanning before and after connectivity. #### Detect Spear-phishing Attacks _**Spear phishing** is a phishing attack type targeted at a specific individual or official rather than a group or organization_. Its target can be CEOs, CIOs, or an employee of the organization. To avoid becoming victim to spear-phishing attempts, one has to be aware of the necessary steps of [how to investigate phishing emails](/content/email-phishing-prevention/how-to-investigate-phishing-emails). Spear phishing attacks can be identified as the message usually evokes a sense of urgency and fear. Another factor is the incorrect email address that seems similar to the official address. _Spear phishing is an advanced form of phishing that takes time_ and in which attackers invest much to obtain the victim’s personal information. Above, we discussed some fundamental methodologies on [how to stop phishing emails](/content/email-phishing-prevention/how-to-stop-phishing-emails). The most important aspect is to be proactive and take preventive measures instead of being reactive after an incident occurs. It also requires being alert at all times. The **phishing prevention best practices** must never be overlooked, as they are an integral part of the overall cybersecurity setup. ![best phishing protection](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2021/01/prevent-spear-phishing.png) ##### Join the thousands of organizations that use DuoCircle --- Find out how affordable it is for your organization today and be pleasantly surprised. [Phishing Protection - Sign Up](/email/phishing-protection)Interested in our Partner Program for MSPs and VARs? Visit Our [MSP Partner Program](/msp-partner-program). ## Ready to talk? Same-day response from someone technical. We tell you yes or no quickly. If yes, we get to work. 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