Businesses that aren’t alert and proactive about cybersecurity threats can easily get scammed, leading to costly consequences. Fortunately, by learning about common hacker tactics, such as phishing emails, you can protect your employees and company. Here’s what you need to know.
What Are Phishing Emails?
Phishing is when scammers try to trick users into installing malware or giving over personal information, such as bank account details, credit card numbers, usernames, or passwords.
To do this, they’ll often send fake emails that feel real. For example, you or your employees may receive an urgent message from your credit card company claiming that there’s been a security breach. The email may ask for details, including your username and password, and warn you that your account will be frozen if you don’t comply.
The urgency communicated in the email can easily trip people up, making your company vulnerable. Additionally, your employees may not even know they were scammed, as the attacker may redirect the malicious link to the credit card company’s website.
During a crisis, such as COVID-19, this may be even more of a problem. People expect to receive information from authorities, including employers and the government. Scammers will take advantage by sending emails that appear to come from respected agencies and organizations.
How to Protect Your Business
First, teach your employees to watch for red flags. Make sure they never click on emails with a strange-looking address or a lot of typos. Also, they should steer clear of messaging that uses scare tactics, such as “you need to act now.”
If your employees ever enter their social security number or banking details, make sure they verify the website. If they aren’t sure, have them reach out to your IT team or contractor.
Encourage your team to have strong passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and characters. They should never use the same login credentials for different accounts. Finally, make password changes mandatory every couple of months.
When you need help with your cybersecurity needs, contact C2XCEL. Located in Texas, we connect businesses globally and in the DFW area. We will analyze your security practices to determine which areas need improvement. Next, we’ll build a custom plan to protect your business. Our professionals also help with responding to security incidents and managing the cybersecurity lifecycle. Call (844) 422-9235 to schedule a consultation, or head to our website to learn more about our services.