How To Detect Phishing Emails
Phishing attacks are on the rise. Over the last two years, phishing volume has risen by 175%, and the second half of 2022 saw 81% more attacks than the first six months.
The result? Knowing how to detect phishing emails is more important than ever. If companies can spot these digital hooks before they land unsuspecting staff members, it’s possible to significantly reduce your total risk.
What Are Phishing Emails and What Kind of Damage Can They Do?
Phishing emails masquerade as legitimate messages from known senders or trusted companies. These scam messages are crafted to cause action; they may want recipients to click on malicious links, download infected file attachments, or reply with sensitive information such as usernames and passwords.
Phishing relies on human nature. When confronted with messages that are seemingly trustworthy, we are inclined to help. This allows attackers to gain network footholds and compromise key data.
Consider a common example: Attackers do some basic research on their targets using business websites and social media platforms. Then, they craft an email that appears to come from a trusted source, asking the recipient to download an attachment such as a Word document or spreadsheet. Once downloaded into the network, payloads in the attachment may transport malware such as key loggers or data exfiltration tools.
These phishing attacks continue to evolve as cybercriminals employ more effective ways to deceive others. For instance, hackers are stepping up their game by sending encrypted files that create a false sense of security.
10 Ways to Spot Phishing Emails
Not sure how to identify scam emails? Here are 10 ways to help your team find the phish.
1. Sender domains are public services
Legitimate emails from companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, or Google don’t come from @gmail.com or @outlook.com addresses. Instead, they come from corporate domains such as @google.com or @amazon.com.
2. Addresses, links, and domain names don’t match
Emails often contain multiple links, website addresses, and domain names. If these don’t match, it’s a red flag for phishing. For example, if the email domain name is @gmail.com and the sender's email address is a random string of letters and numbers, chances are the email is not legitimate. The same is true for links and web addresses within the body of the email. If the text of links says “Google,” but the address points somewhere else, it’s a scam.
3. Spelling or grammar errors
While attackers are getting better at this, poor spelling and grammar still take the third spot in how to identify scam emails. If you notice misspelled words in the body of the email or issues such as random capitalization or punctuation, chances are you’ve found a phish.
4. Starts with a strange greeting
Emails that start with greetings such as “Hello Sir/Madam” or other unusual greetings may indicate a phishing attempt. Internal business contacts would use your name or title, while external senders wouldn’t use this type of spam-like greeting.
5. Ends with an incomplete signature
Signatures may also be telltale signs of phishing. For example, if the signature is incomplete — it’s missing titles, phone numbers, or other pertinent data — it could be a phishing attempt.
6. Lacks personalization
Lacking personalization is next in this how to detect phishing emails list. Legitimate senders won’t spam you with generic form emails. Companies that you’ve done business with, personally or professionally, will capture and use contact information wherever possible.
7. Includes attachments
Unsolicited attachments are a common indicator of phishing emails. Legitimate companies or contacts don’t send attachments unless they’re requested.
8. Asks for personal or sensitive information
The goal of phishing attacks is to compromise your IT environment. To accomplish this, they may ask for account details or personal information under the guise of fixing a problem or offering a new service.
9. Demands immediate action
Urgency is a hallmark of phishing. If you’re wondering how to identify scam emails in action, urgency tops the list. For example, attackers will often claim that user accounts will be closed or that account holders have been compromised. Look for lines like “URGENT ACTION REQUIRED” or “WARNING: YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE CLOSED.”
10. Offers an immediate reward
Phishing emails may also offer a reward, such as a gift card or prize of some kind, for clicking on website links. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Avoiding the Hook
Once you know how to detect phishing emails, a multistep strategy can help reduce the risk of phishing attacks.
First, you need to ensure that your employees report potential phishing attacks. This means making it clear that staff aren’t responsible for the receipt of phishing emails and are doing the right thing by taking the time to report.
Next, you should implement detection tools capable of catching most hooks before they make it into employee inboxes. While staff reporting helps reduce risk, the fewer emails that make it through security, the better.
It’s also worthwhile to partner with an experienced security provider to help design and deploy IT frameworks capable of frustrating phishing efforts. Acropolis Technology Group can help your business build an in-depth security strategy that utilizes tools, people, processes, and education to make security practice a seamless part of your DNA.
See how we can help your business foil phishing efforts. Let’s get started.