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Do You Know the Various Types of Cyber Attacks Out There?
Download and share our Cyber Attack Infographic to raise awareness about the types of cyber threats out there.
Phishing has always posed a risk, but AI has made it more dangerous than ever. Welcome to Phishing 2.0—smarter, more convincing, and harder to spot. Recognising this evolving threat is more important than ever.
A recent study revealed a 60% surge in AI-driven phishing attacks, signaling that the threat is only intensifying. This is a clear warning to begin strategising for phishing attack prevention. From understanding how AI is amplifying phishing to investing in phishing awareness training, here’s what you need to know to protect yourself.
The Evolution of Phishing
Phishing started off simply: attackers would send mass emails, hoping someone would fall for the bait. These emails were often poorly crafted, filled with bad grammar, suspicious sender addresses, and obvious lies—making them easy to spot. But times have changed. Today, attackers leverage AI to refine their tactics, crafting more convincing messages and targeting specific individuals with precision. This evolution has made phishing far more effective.
How AI Enhances Phishing
Creating Realistic Messages
AI can process vast amounts of data, analysing how people write and communicate. This allows it to generate realistic phishing messages that sound like they’re from a genuine source, mimicking the tone and style of legitimate communications, making them much harder to detect.
Personalised Attacks
AI can collect information from social media and other sources to craft highly personalised messages. These messages often include specific details about your life, such as your job, hobbies, or recent activities, and might even reference recent purchases or interactions. This level of personalisation makes the messages more convincing and increases the likelihood that you’ll fall for them.
Spear Phishing
Spear phishing specifically targets individuals or organisations and is far more sophisticated than standard phishing. With AI, spear phishing becomes even more dangerous, as it enables attackers to conduct deep research and create highly personalised messages that closely resemble legitimate communications.
To help combat this threat, we offer a free phishing test that reveals which of your employees might fall victim to these attacks and how your organisation ranks compared to others. Additionally, our phishing awareness training provides your team with the skills they need to recognise and avoid these tailored threats.
Automated Phishing
AI automates many elements of phishing, allowing attackers to send thousands of phishing messages rapidly. It can also adjust messages based on responses; for instance, if someone clicks a link but doesn’t provide information, AI can automatically send a follow-up email. This persistence significantly boosts the chances of success.
Deepfake Technology
Deepfakes leverage AI to create highly realistic fake videos and audio, adding a new layer of deception to phishing attacks. Attackers can use deepfakes to impersonate trusted figures. As noted by Mailgun, AI can effortlessly generate lifelike images, voices, and videos, expanding the possibilities of phishing beyond traditional methods, like a CEO requesting sensitive information.
This advanced technology allows attackers to produce content that’s almost indistinguishable from reality, making it even harder to detect and increasing the risk to organisations.
The Impact of AI-Enhancing Phishing
Increased Success Rates
AI enhances the effectiveness of phishing attacks, leading to a higher success rate and increased data breaches. As a result, companies may experience significant financial losses, while individuals within these organisations could face identity theft and other serious repercussions from successful phishing attempts.
Harder to Detect
Traditional phishing detection methods struggle against AI-enhanced attacks. Spam filters may not catch them. Employees may not recognise them as threats. This makes it easier for attackers to succeed.
Greater Damage
AI-enhanced phishing can cause more damage. Personalised attacks can lead to significant data breaches. Attackers can gain access to sensitive information. They can also disrupt operations. The consequences can be severe.
Charities Under Threat
Charities are increasingly targeted by phishing attacks, which have become one of the biggest threats to the sector. According to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), charities are particularly vulnerable because attackers exploit their typically less robust security measures and their often-urgent calls for donations.
Charity employees often use their own personal devices which are typically harder to secure than devices that are owned or managed by the organisation itself.
These phishing attacks can lead to severe consequences, including financial loss and compromised donor data. It’s crucial for charities to implement strong cybersecurity practices and remain vigilant against these sophisticated threats. Source: NCSC
How to Protect Yourself and Your Business
Be Skeptical
Always be skeptical of unsolicited messages. Even if they appear to come from a trusted source. Verify the sender’s identity. Don’t click on links or download attachments from unknown sources.
Check for Red Flags
Look for red flags in emails. These might include generic greetings, urgent language, or requests for sensitive information. Be cautious if the email seems too good to be true.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA adds an extra layer of security. Even if an attacker gets your password, they’ll need another form of verification. This makes it harder for them to access your accounts.
Phishing Awareness Training
Education is key. Learn about phishing tactics. Stay informed about the latest threats. Share this knowledge with others. Training can help people recognise and avoid phishing attacks.
Verify Requests for Sensitive Information
Never provide sensitive information via email. If you receive a request, verify it through a separate communication channel. Contact the person directly using a known phone number or email address.
Use Advanced Security Tools
Invest in advanced security tools. Anti-phishing software can help detect and block phishing attempts. Email filters can screen out suspicious messages. Keep your security software up to date.
Report Phishing Attempts
Report phishing attempts to your IT team or email provider. This helps them improve their security measures. It also helps protect others from similar attacks.
Enable Email Authentication Protocols
Email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC help protect against email spoofing. Ensure these protocols are enabled for your domain. This adds an extra layer of security to your emails.
Regular Security Audits
Conduct regular security audits. This helps identify vulnerabilities in your systems. Addressing these vulnerabilities can prevent phishing attacks.
Check out our previous blog here where we discuss in detail more ways to protect yourself against phishing attacks.