How to detect and avoid phishing?

La seguridad en línea es una prioridad absoluta para cualquier negocio. Una de las amenazas más comunes y engañosas que enfrentamos es el phishing. Esta práctica maliciosa no solo puede comprometer la información confidencial de tu empresa, sino también dañar la reputación y afectar la confianza de tus clientes. Te contamos cómo detectar y evitar el phishing!

What is phishing?

Phishing is a technique used by cybercriminals to obtain sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal information. It is carried out through fake messages that appear legitimate, such as emails, text messages, or even phone calls. These messages often target employees or other individuals within an organization, pretending to be from trusted institutions like banks, service providers, or even colleagues.

Warning signs

Identifying a phishing attempt can be challenging, but there are key warning signs that everyone in your company should know:

• Grammatical and spelling errors: Phishing emails or messages often contain obvious errors that distinguish them from legitimate professional communications.

• Requests for personal information: Any request for sensitive information, such as passwords or account numbers, especially if it comes unexpectedly or urgently, should be treated with caution.

• Suspicious URLs: Al hacer clic en un enlace, verifica la URL en la barra de direcciones. Los sitios web de phishing a menudo imitan los sitios legítimos, pero la URL puede ser ligeramente diferente (por ejemplo, www.cantalupe-seguro.com.ar en lugar de www.cantalupe.com.ar)

Real-world examples of phishing

Imagine one of your employees receives an email that appears to come from your cloud service provider. It asks them to click on a link to update their account information, but the URL of the link is suspicious and does not match the provider's official domain. This is a classic example of phishing aimed at obtaining access credentials to business systems.

Another common scenario is receiving a social media message promising an unbelievably good offer from a known supplier, but the link leads to a fake website designed to collect personal information from unsuspecting users.

Protecting your business

The best defense against phishing is education and constant vigilance. Here are some recommended practices to protect your business:

• Regular training: Educate your employees about the risks of phishing and how to detect it. Conduct phishing simulations to teach them to recognize and avoid threats.

• URL verification: Before clicking on a link, ensure you verify the legitimacy of the URL and that it matches the official company or service site.

• Seguridad en capas: Implement layered security solutions such as firewalls, up-to-date antivirus software, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to protect your systems and data.

• Políticas de seguridad: Establish clear policies on handling confidential information and responding to security incidents.

• Keeping technology up-to-date: Hackers typically exploit known vulnerabilities in systems to find a gateway to upload malicious code. Once they find it, they can access the system without permission and upload all kinds of content. Therefore, it's crucial to keep the technology you use up-to-date (PHP versions, databases, WordPress, plugins, etc.).

Conclusion

Phishing is a persistent and sophisticated threat that every business must take seriously. By educating your employees, implementing robust security measures, and maintaining constant vigilance, you can protect your company against these cyber threats. Remember, online security is an ongoing, collaborative effort that requires constant attention to keep your data and customer trust secure.

Para mitigar los problemas de hackeo, ofrecemos servicios de mantenimiento preventivo que ayudan a mantener seguros tus sistemas y datos. ¡Contáctanos hoy mismo para conocer más y proteger tu negocio contra el phishing!