How To Protect Your Organization From Phishing Scams

Phishing scams are a common cybersecurity threat that organizations face. Phishing scams function as a form of fraud that aims to gain access to a person’s or organization’s private information. Usually, phishing scams utilize established communication channels such as email, text, voice, or mail to trick people into giving away private information. This is a significant concern for people and organizations alike. In organizations, phishing scams are a common occurrence that puts all your assets at risk. Your organization and yourself should stay educated on these scams to maintain operational resilience when vulnerabilities are exploited. Here and some common types of phishing scams and what you can do to prevent them from working.

Common Phishing Scams

The most common phishing scams occur over text. Emails and text messages are the most popular mediums used by professional scammers. Fake tech support scams are the most common format used. A person will reach out to a person within an organization and explain how there are issues with their work device. The scammer will ask for sensitive information such as emails, passwords, and so forth. The person may mention that software needs to be installed to fix the problem. Once information is exchanged or a nasty program is installed, you have exposed your organization to a security breach. It can be that simple. Other common formats are scammers targeting certain kinds of people within an organization such as executives or emulating an email that is commonly sent through an organization’s structure.

How To Protect Your Organization From Phishing Scams

There are many different ways to protect your organization and yourself from phishing scams. First, you should look into installing security software on your device. Security software packages like Norton Antivirus or McAfee Security can provide an extra layer of defense against phishing scams. If you choose to use security software on your device, ensure that your software is routinely updated since vulnerabilities of previous versions can always be discovered.

Multi-factor authentication is a useful practice to implement in your organization. A simple password is not enough these days to protect important accounts from being tapped into. Multi-factor authentication requires multiple steps to be completed before accessing an account. For example, your online banking portal may not only ask for a password but also a code that is sent to your cellphone. This extra layer of authentication can ward off many phishing scammers before it’s too late.

Lastly, you want to make a point to educate your employees on phishing scams. A lot of scams are not crafted perfectly and can be discovered by taking more time out of your day to read your emails. If you have an IT department, organize an organization-wide meeting every so often to update everyone on potential phishing scams or other types of security breaches. When you receive an email or call, always double-check the contact information. “Spoof” emails and unknown information is one of the easiest warning signs to detect. A lot of the time, you will turn out to be right. Be extra vigilant when deadlines loom. Scammers may pray on certain organizations such as accounting firms towards the end of quarters when they know time is extremely valuable.