Phishing remains one of the most effective forms of cyberattack, despite advances in cyber security. These attacks often exploit human psychology, manipulating individuals into revealing sensitive information or downloading malicious files.
📍 Why Phishing Still Works
Phishing works because it relies on social engineering techniques rather than exploiting software vulnerabilities.
Attackers impersonate trusted entities (such as colleagues or financial institutions) to trick people into clicking malicious links or providing sensitive information.
One particularly dangerous form is spear phishing, where attackers target specific individuals or organisations with personalised messages.
A variation of spear phishing is business email compromise (BEC), where cybercriminals impersonate executives or employees, often tricking people into disclosing sensitive data (or account information).
The main reason phishing persists is human error.
Even the most secure systems can be compromised by a single employee falling for a phishing scam. One click on a malicious link is enough to expose an individual’s account and, potentially, the entire organisation’s network.
📍 Defending Against Phishing
Organisations need to take a multi-layered approach, combining technology, training, and incident response.
1. Email Filtering and Tagging Solutions
Advanced email filters are essential to blocking phishing emails before they reach employees. These systems analyse incoming messages for suspicious elements, such as strange URLs. However, no system is foolproof.
2. User Training and Awareness
Educating employees is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of phishing. Regular training and phishing simulations help employees recognize suspicious emails.
Training should also encourage employees to report suspicious messages.
3. #IncidentResponsePlans
If a phishing attempt succeeds, having a process in place to isolate compromised systems, contain the breach, and communicate with affected stakeholders can limit the damage.
📍 Human Error and Mistakes
Despite the best security systems, human error remains a major weakness. Employees can unknowingly open the door to cyberattacks by clicking on the wrong link or entering their credentials on a fake website. This points out the need for a strong cyber security culture within organisations.
📍 Permissions and AccessControl
A key defence against phishing is proper access control.
Organisations should apply the least privilege principle, ensuring employees only have access to the files and systems they need for their roles. This limits the potential damage a compromised account can cause.
