Plan Ahead And Know What Do Phishing Emails Do Before They Strike
Phishing emails seek to take advantage of an unsuspecting user’s data. Hackers carry out phishing attacks online to gain profit by selling sensitive data on the dark web or commit other crimes.
A Closer Look At What Do Phishing Emails Do
Phishing is a social engineering technique designed by malicious actors to trick victims into clicking on a compromised email or opening a fraudulent attachment. After they click on the link, users are redirected to fake websites that look like they belong to a legitimate business. These websites then require the user to enter their credentials.
Once users share their credentials, scammers capture the login information and use it to steal further personal information or make purchases. Another phishing email example is when the user opens an email attachment, which is embedded with malware. The malware infects the victim’s system, and threat actors can then access all of the user’s accounts and take control of the devices.
The sensitive information which can be stolen includes bank and credit card numbers, passwords, Social Security number, and other PII (Personally Identifiable Information).
For ensuring the best phishing protection in the workplace, organizations must be aware of the consequences of phishing attacks online. Only when they know about the devastating effects can they decide how to mitigate phishing attacks and how to stop phishing emails.
Risks And Consequences Of Phishing Emails
Falling victim to a vicious phishing scam can have dire consequences for individuals and organizations alike; some of these include
Financial Identity Theft
Scammers can use personal information like full name, date of birth, SSN, and address to commit bank fraud, wire fraud, credit card fraud, and employment fraud. They can fill out false applications for loans in the victim’s name or withdraw money from their accounts.
Government Identity Theft
Cyber adversaries can use the stolen information like the SSN for submitting fraudulent income tax returns and claim a tax refund, which is also known as tax-related identity theft. Organizations must enlighten their employees through types of phishing attacks ppt to prevent such a scenario.
Criminal Identity Theft
Cybercriminals can use the stolen information in law enforcement matters. For example – if a person gets arrested and provides the victim’s personal data of online phishing attack, it can cause more significant problems for the victim. Having a warrant out for arrest can have many disastrous consequences for the victim.
Medical Identity Theft
Email phishing protection assumes significance because scammers can gain unauthorized access to the victim’s health insurance. They can use the stolen information during a medical emergency, visit doctors, get prescription drugs, or file health insurance claims. It can hamper the victim’s health coverage because he might not have access to medical insurance in times of an emergency.
Thus, understanding what do phishing emails do becomes crucial in today’s interconnected world where a piece of stolen information can harm a victim in more than one way. Only when we know about a threat can we plan on tackling it effectively.
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