stop phishing emails

The S.E.C.U.R.E. Method To Stop Phishing E-mails

Phishing attacks remain the most common form of cybercrime, primarily because they’re easy to implement and highly effective. Every day, over 3.4 billion spam e-mails reach users’ inboxes, and phishing e-mails top the list due to their scalability and ability to deceive unsuspecting people. With AI tools like ChatGPT making phishing attempts even more convincing, it’s crucial to recognize the dangers these attacks pose to your business.

4 Dangers of Phishing Attacks

Here are four significant risks associated with phishing attacks:

  1. Data Breaches

Phishing attacks can expose your organization’s sensitive information to cybercriminals. Once data is exposed, hackers may sell it on the dark web or hold it for ransom. This can result in financial loss, legal repercussions, and damage to your reputation.

  1. Financial Loss

Phishing e-mails often lead to fraudulent invoices or unauthorized transactions, directly impacting your business’s bottom line.

  1. Malware Infections

Malicious attachments or links in phishing e-mails can introduce malware into your systems, disrupting operations and causing data loss.

  1. Compromised Accounts

When employees fall for phishing e-mails, their accounts may become compromised, giving attackers access to sensitive company data or launching further attacks.

The S.E.C.U.R.E. Method to Identify Phishing E-mails

To help protect your business from phishing attacks, use the S.E.C.U.R.E. Method to identify suspicious e-mails:

  1. S – Start With The Subject Line: Is it strange or overly urgent? (e.g., "FWD: FWD: FWD: review immediately")
  2. E – Examine The E-mail Address: Do you recognize the sender? Is the e-mail address slightly misspelled or unfamiliar?
  3. C – Consider The Greeting: Does the salutation seem off or generic? (e.g., “Hello Ma’am!”)
  4. U – Unpack The Message: Is there a sense of extreme urgency or a too-good-to-be-true offer encouraging you to click a link or download an attachment?
  5. R – Review For Errors: Are there grammatical mistakes or odd misspellings?
  6. E – Evaluate Links And Attachments: Hover over links before clicking them to check the URL, and avoid opening attachments from unfamiliar senders.

By following these steps, you can prevent your employees from falling victim to phishing attempts.

For expert support in implementing email security and training your team on cybersecurity best practices, click here to schedule a discovery call with Lazer IT Consultants.

Why You Need a Cybersecurity Expert

While educating your team is important, having a cybersecurity expert monitor your network and eliminate spam e-mails before they reach employees is crucial. Phishing attacks are constantly evolving, and without the proper security measures in place, your business could be the next victim.

If you need assistance with assessing your network, training your team on cybersecurity, or ensuring your phishing protections are robust, we’re here to help. For a detailed evaluation of your current cybersecurity practices, learn more about our network security services.

Conclusion

Phishing attacks continue to be a major threat to businesses. With AI-powered phishing scams becoming more convincing, it’s critical to educate your team and implement email security measures. By using the S.E.C.U.R.E. Method and partnering with cybersecurity experts, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to phishing scams.

Ready to enhance your cybersecurity efforts? Learn more about our project services and protect your business from phishing and other cyber threats today.