computer security info  Blog's Page

Back To Blog

What Is Phishing Email? (Types Of Phishing Email)


  Category:  INFO | 6th February 2023 | Author:  CSI TEAM

computer security info

Phishing Is A Form Of Cyber Attack That Involves Tricking Individuals Into Providing Sensitive Information Such As Passwords, Credit Card Numbers, And Other Personal Details. This Is Typically Done Through A Phishing Email, Which Is An Email That Appears To Come From A Trustworthy Source, Such As A Bank Or Online Retailer, But Is Actually Sent By An Attacker.

The Email May Contain A Fake Login Page Or A Link To A Malicious Website, And The Attacker Uses The Information Obtained To Steal The Victim's Identity, Steal Money, Or Gain Unauthorized Access To Sensitive Systems. Phishing Emails Can Be Difficult To Detect, As They Often Look Legitimate And Use Social Engineering Tactics To Persuade The Recipient To Take The Desired Action.

To Protect Against Phishing, It Is Important To Be Cautious When Providing Personal Information Online And To Look Out For Signs That An Email Might Be A Phishing Attempt, Such As Misspelled Words, Unexpected Requests For Personal Information, Or Suspicious Links.

Types Of Phishing Email

There Are Several Types Of Phishing Emails, Including:

  1. Deceptive Phishing: An Email That Appears To Come From A Legitimate Source, Such As A Bank Or Online Retailer, And Requests Personal Information.

  2. Spear Phishing: A Targeted Phishing Attack That Is Directed Towards A Specific Individual Or Organization.

  3. Clone Phishing: An Attack In Which A Legitimate Email Is Altered And Then Resent To The Recipient, Often With A Malicious Attachment Or Link.

  4. Whaling: A Type Of Spear Phishing That Targets High-level Executives Or Other Important Individuals Within An Organization.

  5. SMS Phishing (Smishing): A Phishing Attack That Is Delivered Via Text Message To A Mobile Phone.

  6. Voice Phishing (Vishing): A Phishing Attack That Is Delivered Over The Phone, Often Using Automated Technology To Trick The Victim Into Providing Personal Information.

  7. Pharming: An Attack In Which A Victim's Browser Is Redirected To A Fake Website That Resembles A Legitimate Site, In Order To Steal Personal Information.

It Is Important To Be Aware Of These Different Types Of Phishing In Order To Better Protect Yourself From These Types Of Attacks.

Characteristics Of Phishing Email

The Following Are Common Characteristics Of Phishing Emails:

  1. Urgent Language: Phishing Emails Often Use Urgent Language, Such As "Your Account Will Be Suspended Unless You Take Immediate Action" To Create A Sense Of Urgency And Encourage The Recipient To Act Quickly.

  2. Requests For Personal Information: Phishing Emails Often Ask For Personal Information, Such As Login Credentials, Social Security Numbers, Or Credit Card Information.

  3. Suspicious Links Or Attachments: Phishing Emails Often Contain Links Or Attachments That Lead To Fake Login Pages Or Malicious Websites.

  4. Spelling And Grammar Errors: Phishing Emails Are Often Hastily Put Together, And May Contain Spelling And Grammar Errors.

  5. Spoofed Sender: Phishing Emails May Appear To Come From A Trusted Source, Such As A Bank Or Online Retailer, But The Sender's Email Address May Have Been Altered To Appear Legitimate.

  6. Unsolicited Requests: Phishing Emails Are Often Unsolicited And Are Sent To Individuals Who Have Not Given Permission To Receive Emails From The Sender.

  7. Unusual Requests: Phishing Emails May Ask The Recipient To Do Something Out Of The Ordinary, Such As Provide Sensitive Information Or Transfer Money To A Different Account.

It Is Important To Be Vigilant And To Carefully Examine Emails For These Characteristics In Order To Avoid Falling Victim To A Phishing Attack.

Attack Technique Of Phishing Email

Phishing Attacks Typically Use The Following Techniques:

  1. Spoofing: Phishing Emails Often Mimic The Appearance Of A Legitimate Message From A Trusted Source, Such As A Bank, Online Retailer, Or Government Agency, By Using A Similar Logo, Layout, And Style.

  2. Urgency: Phishing Emails Often Create A Sense Of Urgency By Warning The Recipient That Their Account Will Be Suspended Or That Some Other Immediate Action Is Required.

  3. Social Engineering: Phishing Emails May Use Personal Information That Has Been Gathered From Social Media Or Other Sources To Make The Message Appear More Convincing.

  4. Malicious Links Or Attachments: Phishing Emails Often Contain Links Or Attachments That Lead To Fake Login Pages Or Websites Designed To Steal Personal Information.

  5. Mimicking Trustworthy Websites: Phishing Emails May Contain Links To Fake Websites That Look Similar To The Legitimate Site, But Are Designed To Steal Information.

  6. Man-in-the-middle Attacks: In A Man-in-the-middle Attack, The Attacker Intercepts The Communication Between The Recipient And The Website, And Can Use This Information To Steal Personal Data Or Other Sensitive Information.

By Being Aware Of These Attack Techniques, You Can Better Protect Yourself From Phishing Attacks. It Is Important To Be Cautious When Receiving Unsolicited Emails And To Never Click On Links Or Download Attachments From Unknown Sources.

Prevention Tips Of Phishing Email

Here Are Some Tips To Prevent Phishing Email Attacks:

  1. Be Wary Of Unsolicited Emails: Don't Trust Emails That Come From Unknown Sources, Especially If They Contain Links Or Attachments.

  2. Verify The Sender's Identity: Look For Signs That The Email Is From A Legitimate Source, Such As A Recognizable Email Address Or Logo.

  3. Check The URL: Before Clicking On A Link, Hover Over It To See Where It Leads. If The URL Looks Suspicious, Don't Click On It.

  4. Use Anti-phishing Filters: Many Email Clients Have Built-in Filters That Can Identify And Block Phishing Emails.

  5. Be Cautious When Entering Personal Information: Avoid Entering Sensitive Information, Such As Passwords Or Credit Card Numbers, On Websites That You Don't Trust.

  6. Keep Software Up-to-date: Make Sure Your Operating System And Web Browser Are Up-to-date, As Attackers Often Target Vulnerabilities In Older Software.

  7. Educate Employees: Make Sure Your Employees Are Aware Of The Dangers Of Phishing And How To Recognize Phishing Emails.

By Following These Tips, You Can Help Protect Yourself And Your Organization From Phishing Attacks.

Summary Of Phishing Email

Phishing Email Is A Type Of Cyberattack In Which Criminals Use Fake Emails That Appear To Be From A Legitimate Source To Trick People Into Revealing Sensitive Information, Such As Passwords Or Credit Card Numbers. The Goal Of A Phishing Attack Is To Steal Personal Information Or Money. These Emails Often Contain Links Or Attachments That, When Clicked, Infect The Recipient's Computer With malware Or Redirect Them To A Fake Website Designed To Steal Their Information.

To Protect Against Phishing Emails, It Is Important To Be Wary Of Unsolicited Emails, Verify The Sender's Identity, Check The URL Before Clicking On A Link, Use Anti-phishing Filters, Be Cautious When Entering Personal Information, Keep Software Up-to-date, And Educate Employees About The Dangers Of Phishing.

What Is The Phishing Email, Definition Of Phishing