1.
What Is Phishing?
Counted among the oldest known topics in the history of the internet related to cybersecurity, phishing is a type of cyberattack. These phishing attacks aim to deceive users in an enticing way and ultimately target their identities. You can find detailed information about these attacks throughout our article. By continuing to read, you can learn the answers to questions such as what is phishing, how it is carried out, what the most common examples are, and how to protect against phishing attacks using cloud-based solutions.
As one of the most critical elements of data security, phishing is a type of cyberattack that aims to trap users by sending them fake messages via email or links, such as discount offers or gift vouchers. When users click these malicious messages or links, they are typically redirected to a fake login page, and any credentials entered on this page are captured by the attacker. In short, the answer to the question what is phishing can be summarized as a cyberattack that aims to capture authentication credentials or sensitive data by directing the user to fake login pages. Through phishing campaigns, attackers can easily obtain victims’ online banking credentials, email passwords, and social media account passwords and gain unauthorized access to their accounts. Moreover, phishing is not limited to generic fake messages targeting everyday users; in the business world, there are also highly prevalent advanced phishing techniques such as spear phishing, Business Email Compromise (BEC), and OAuth/SSO credential phishing, which are much more targeted. In addition, QR phishing (quishing) and MFA fatigue attacks that aim to abuse multi-factor authentication processes to mislead users are among the advanced phishing techniques that are becoming increasingly common today.
So, how is phishing carried out? You can find the answer to this question right below.
2.
How Is Phishing Carried Out?
Phishing fraud typically begins with impersonating websites or applications that users trust. The attacker copies the websites or mobile applications of brands and institutions that the user frequently interacts with and trusts, making them appear identical. The attacker then prepares fake emails, SMS messages, or push notifications that appear to be sent from well-known sources such as banks, courier companies, social media platforms, or popular brands, with attention-grabbing subjects like “your account has been suspended,” “your payment has failed,” “your shipment could not be delivered,” or “don’t miss the XXX campaign.” The most distinctive feature of these messages is the language used to trigger the user’s curiosity, anxiety, or sense of urgency, prompting them to act quickly. In this way, the user is tricked into believing they are logging into a legitimate service and ends up entering authentication details into a fraudulent form. When the user logs into this fake page, the username, password, or other sensitive information they provide is collected by the attacker and used for unauthorized access. Some phishing attacks are carried out using other social engineering and technical methods such as requesting one-time verification codes over the phone, sending malicious attachments containing malware (Trojans), or deploying keyloggers. Ultimately, phishing is a multi-layered fraud method designed both from a technical perspective and through psychological manipulation. When fake offers that attract user interest, trustworthy-looking designs, and messages that create a sense of urgency come together, they form effective traps. You can find the most common examples of phishing attacks below.
3.
The Most Common Phishing Examples
Those who are curious about the question what is a phishing attack usually also want to understand real-world examples. In the list below, you can find details about the most common phishing examples.
- Sending fake emails that appear to be from a bank or financial institution, requesting account verification or password reset.
- Using the name of a courier company to send fake SMS messages or emails about an “undeliverable package” and directing users to fraudulent tracking links.
- Preparing fake campaigns, discounts, or gift voucher messages allegedly from popular brands to collect users’ personal data.
- Redirecting users to fake login pages via security alerts or login notifications that appear to be sent from social media platforms.
- Hiding malicious files in email attachments to install malware on the user’s device and give the attacker access to the system.
- Phone scams where individuals posing as bank staff, customer representatives, or official authorities request identity verification or SMS codes.
4.
Key Characteristics of Phishing Attacks
- The attacker impersonates a trusted organization, brand, or individual and prepares fake emails, SMS messages, or other messages.
- The messages use language designed to provoke curiosity, panic, or urgency and push the user to take immediate action.
- Fake links that mimic legitimate websites are embedded in the message, and when the user clicks these links, they are redirected to a fraudulent login page.
- The attacker captures data when the user enters their username, password, or banking information into this fake page.
- When malicious attachments in fake emails are opened, malware is installed on the device and the attacker gains access to the system.
- In advanced phishing methods, attackers call the user by phone, pose as an authorized person, and request one-time passwords or financial information.
5.
What Is an Anti-Phishing Code?
So, what is an anti-phishing code? As the name suggests, an anti-phishing code is a powerful security feature designed to protect accounts against phishing attacks. In this simple yet effective defense mechanism, a code is embedded in the email. This code provides an additional security check to verify whether the message comes from a legitimate source, although it does not offer an absolute guarantee of security on its own. Below are the steps showing how an anti-phishing code works.
- When a user wants to use a service or create an account, the relevant website generates an anti-phishing code and assigns it to the user.
- This code appears in a specific area in the inbox every time an email or message is sent to the user.
- When the user opens the email, they see and verify the code that was previously shared with them.
- If the code is correct, the user can safely proceed with the transaction.
- If the code is incorrect or missing, the user has the opportunity to take necessary precautions before proceeding.
- In this way, even if attackers attempt to deceive the user by sending fake emails, phishing attempts can be neutralized through code verification.
6.
Protect Against Phishing Attacks with Cloud Platforms
With cloud-based security solutions, you can effectively protect yourself against phishing attempts. Take a look at the list we have compiled for you to better understand these methods!
- Use cloud-based security solutions to automatically filter suspicious email traffic and block malicious content before it reaches end users.
- Leverage cloud services that provide real-time threat analysis to instantly detect new phishing patterns and block their access to your systems.
- Strengthen user accounts with multi-factor authentication to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.
- Use cloud-based email security tools to automatically scan links and attachments in incoming messages and prevent unsafe content from being opened.
- Apply and manage security policies on all devices from a single dashboard using centralized management capabilities, and keep updates under control.
- Conduct regular phishing awareness trainings within the organization and use simulations provided by cloud platforms to improve users’ ability to recognize threats.
- Build geographically redundant infrastructures for disaster scenarios. With disaster recovery solutions, you can safeguard your business continuity against unexpected attacks.
What Are DoS and DDoS Attacks? Protection Methods in Cloud Environments
7.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you remediate phishing?
When phishing-related malicious content is detected, you can scan your device with an up-to-date antivirus solution, remove suspicious add-ons and extensions, and reset your passwords to enhance account security.
What is a phishing test?
A phishing test is a controlled security simulation conducted to measure how well employees in an organization can recognize phishing attacks. This testing process helps identify weak points and increase awareness.
How can you recognize a phishing email?
Phishing emails typically create a sense of urgency, appear official but contain spelling errors, include suspicious links, and request personal information. Checking the sender’s address often provides sufficient clues.
Which methods are most commonly used in phishing attacks?
The most common method is to redirect users to a fake website via fraudulent emails and capture their login credentials. In addition, fake campaign announcements and file attachments are also frequently used.
