Everyone can fall victim to spear phishing attacks, but there are some actions you can take to minimize the risk. These include:
Double-Check Everything: Ensure the email address is accurate and check the request to ensure it’s legitimate.
Verify with the Sender: Call the sender or another member of the department to verify any requests made.
Retype the Link: Never click a link inside an email. Type the domain instead and access your accounts independently.
Copy and Paste Email Text: Enter the body of the email into Google. Many spear phishing email examples utilize off-the-shelf spoofing kits.
Scan Attachments: Make sure your email provider automatically scans attachments for potential malware or ransomware. The best email security software will also find and block spear phishing attacks via a behavioral data science-based approach.
Spread Awareness: Ensure employees are aware of spoofing and train them to spot and react to suspicious communications.
Because spear phishing targets individuals rather than technical vulnerabilities, employee training is a critical defense. Security awareness training should additionally cover:
Methods to identify suspicious emails.
Guidance on limiting personal information shared on social media platforms.
Clear organizational policies to prevent scams.
Spear
and penetration tests to reinforce training.
Spear phishing is cheap to launch and costly to endure. Even a single targeted email can trigger financial loss, data breaches, and years of reputational fallout.
Thousands of organizations worldwide trust Abnormal to stop targeted phishing, business email compromise, and whaling attacks before they reach the inbox. Investing in our state-of-the-art email security platform can bolster your defenses and decrease your chances of becoming a statistic.
Learn more about how Abnormal protects against spear phishing by requesting a demo today.