When your business is under threat from cybercriminals, it’s safe to assume that they won’t be relying solely on complex technical attacks. In most cases, they will target your weakest link first: Your people. Phishing remains one of the most common and effective methods used to compromise businesses, and the impact can be devastating. From stolen credentials to ransomware deployment and financial fraud, a single successful phishing attempt can disrupt operations, damage your business’s reputation, and expose sensitive company and customer data.
Understanding how phishing works and how to defend against it is essential for every organisation.
Phishing is a type of cyber-attack where criminals impersonate trusted individuals or organisations to trick users into revealing sensitive information, clicking malicious links, or opening harmful attachments.
These messages often appear legitimate, using authentic logos, familiar language, and urgent prompts to create a sense of pressure or confusion.
Common objectives of phishing attacks include:
Phishing can occur through email, SMS (“smishing”), phone calls (“vishing”), social media platforms, or even collaboration tools like Teams and Slack.
Phishing can occur through email, SMS (“smishing”), phone calls (“vishing”), social media platforms, or even collaboration tools like Teams and Slack.
Email Phishing
Email phishing is the most common form of phishing attack. Attackers send mass emails pretending to be banks, courier companies, or internal colleagues. These emails are designed to appear legitimate, often using familiar branding or urgent language to prompt quick action. The attacker’s goal is usually to trick recipients into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware, or entering sensitive information.
Spear Phishing
Spear phishing is a highly targeted attack crafted for a specific individual, often an executive, finance employee, or IT administrator. These attacks are meticulously researched using details from LinkedIn, social media, or previous breaches, making them far more convincing. Because the content feels personal and relevant, victims are more likely to engage, which makes spear phishing significantly more dangerous than broad-based phishing attempts.
Business Email Compromise (BEC)
Fraudsters impersonate CEOs, CFOs, or suppliers to request urgent payments or sensitive information. These messages often rely on authority, urgency, or secrecy to pressure employees into acting quickly without verification. BEC attacks are responsible for some of the highest financial losses globally because they directly target financial processes and internal trust.
Smishing and Vishing
Smishing uses text messages, while vishing relies on phone calls to urge recipients to click, verify, or respond to fraudulent requests. These tactics capitalise on the immediacy of mobile communication, making users more likely to respond quickly. Attackers often spoof legitimate phone numbers or claim to be from banks, delivery services, or IT departments to gain credibility. AI technology advancements are making these attacks harder to spot, as attackers are now able to accurately ‘clone’ voices and even video to convince targets of the attack’s legitimacy.
Clone Phishing
Clone phishing involves duplicating a legitimate email, often one the recipient has previously engaged with, but replacing the attachment or link with a malicious version. Because the email content appears familiar and trustworthy, victims are more likely to click without suspicion. This technique is especially effective when attackers intercept or monitor earlier communications in a thread.
While phishing attacks are becoming more sophisticated, there are consistent warning signs to look out for:
A simple pause to evaluate these elements can prevent a major breach.
Cybercriminals rely on speed, scale, and human error, but organisations with strong, layered defences are far less likely to be compromised. Phishing prevention isn’t only about technology; it’s about empowering people, strengthening processes, and ensuring security is an ongoing practice, not a once-off exercise.
With Cyberlogic’s security-first approach, which combines defensive operations and security monitoring led by our Blue Team, proactive offensive cyber security tactics driven by our Red Team, and GRC-led awareness and governance, you gain the proactive protection needed to stay ahead of evolving threats.
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