Phishing: what is it and how to protect your company?

Phishing impacts both individuals and organizations, causing significant security risks. Understanding how phishing works is essential to safeguard both our personal and work-related data.

The sophistication of these attacks has increased over time, making it more necessary than ever to be alert and aware of the different strategies used by fraudsters to perpetrate their crimes.

According to a study conducted by CyberArk among more than 1,300 IT professionals, 56% of companies identified phishing as the biggest risk to their cybersecurity. Therefore, being aware of recommendations to avoid phishing is critical in today’s digital age.

In this article, we tell you what phishing is, the types that exist, how to prevent it, and what to do if you have been the victim of an attack. In addition, we provide you with a free downloadable guide explaining each of the steps you need to take to ensure that your organization has implemented DMARC correctly.

What is phishing?

Phishing is a computer attack method aimed at obtaining confidential information, including passwords and financial data.

Attacks can take many forms, ranging from emails to text messages.

Attackers send emails that appear to be from legitimate entities, such as banking institutions or digital platforms, in order to trick people and obtain their personal data.

This type of attack is based on social engineering, a strategy that exploits people’s trust and natural interest.

A common example is an email that includes a link that appears to be authentic, but actually directs to a fraudulent page designed to collect information from the victim.

An alarming aspect is that 80% of reported security incidents are caused by phishing, underlining the importance of being alert to this risk.This underlines the importance of being alert to this risk.

Phishing and the business world

The threat of phishing has taken on an alarming character in the business environment, affecting both small and large organizations. Detecting and preventing these attacks is crucial to protect the security and integrity of corporate data.

Advances in technology have led to an increase in both the number and complexity of phishing attacks. According to SlashNext the total volume of phishing attacks has skyrocketed by 4,151% since the advent of ChatGPT in 2022.

Impact of phishing on organizations

The consequences of phishing are profound and can generate a series of severe damages to companies.

The theft of sensitive information can compromise an organization’s financial security and affect customer confidence. and affect customer confidence.

In addition, a successful attack can lead to disruption of operations, damaging the company’s productivity.

In this sense, having technological tools such as Cyber Protect can help considerably to reduce the risks to which an organization may be exposed, and to mitigate the possible undesired effects of an attack.

Cybersecurity Training Programs and Workshops

Aware of the risks, many companies are taking a proactive approach to combat phishing through training and awareness programs.

Educating workers about the strategies employed by cybercriminals is critical to preventing successful attacks.

This becomes particularly relevant when you consider that, according to the Verizon Cybersecurity Risk Report 2024the human factor is present in 68% of security breaches.

As a result, the implementation of cybersecurity workshops has become common practice. These trainings enable employees to recognize the various strategies employed by cybercriminals.

Through simulated phishing attacks, the aim is to improve the response capacity of employees and their ability to identify suspicious e-mails or communications.

Employee security policies

Establishing effective security policies is essential to mitigate the risk of phishing attacks.

These policies should include clear guidelines on how employees should handle sensitive information and how to react to emails or calls requesting confidential data.

They should also address the importance of using strong passwords and the adoption of multi-factor authentication.

How does phishing work?

The phishing mechanism is simple in its execution, yet highly effective. The attackers appear to be from reputable or trusted companies.

Their messages often include elements such as:

Urgency: messages that induce the victim to make hasty decisions.
Deceptive prizes and incentives: offers of prizes that are too attractive to be real.
Deceptive links: links that lead to fake pages designed to look like legitimate ones.

When victims access these links, they are redirected to websites that appear to be legitimate, where they are asked to provide sensitive information. After entering their data, the attackers collect it and use it for their own purposes.

In addition, the use of malware is common in many phishing attacks, where cybercriminals can install malicious software on the victim’s device without the victim realizing it.

What are the types of phishing?

There are several types of phishing, each with particular characteristics and techniques. Among the most frequent are:

Vishing: attacks that use telephone calls to obtain information.
Smishing: text messages created to deceive victims and gain access to their personal data.
QRishing: use of fake QR codes that, when scanned, lead to fraudulent sites.
Spear phishing: attacks focused on specific individuals or companies, usually tailored to maximize their impact.

Each type of phishing employs specific techniques, although they all pursue the same goal: to induce the victim to hand over sensitive data.

How to avoid phishing?

Avoiding phishing requires both knowledge and technological tools. Below are some recommendations to defend against this type of threat:

Always verify senders: do not blindly trust e-mails, even if they appear to come from known sources.
Avoid clicking on dubious links: if a link is suspicious, it is better not to access it.
Use security software: install and keep up to date security applications capable of identifying and blocking phishing attacks.
Train employees: it is vital that training on how to identify phishing attempts is conducted in the work environment.
Be wary of messages requesting confidential information: no legitimate company will request sensitive data by mail or text message.

Adopting these measures helps to protect both individuals and organizations from phishing attempts.

Multifactor Authentication and DMARC

Implementing additional security measures is crucial to strengthen protection against phishing attacks.

Techniques such as multi-factor authentication and the DMARC protocol are effective examples.

Benefits of multifactor authentication

Multifactor authentication adds an extra level of security by requiring more than just a password to access accounts. This method generally includes:

Something you know, such as a password.
Something you have, like a cell phone that receives a verification code.
Something that is, a feature inherent to you, such as identification through facial recognition.

This approach significantly reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access, as the attacker would need multiple elements to compromise an account.

DMARC protocol implementation

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is a technology solution designed to combat phishing by helping organizations establish message authentication policies.

Benefits include:

Improve protection of e-mail domains against spoofing.
Enable organizations to receive reports of phishing attempts targeting their domains.
Reinforce the security and credibility of electronic messages sent by the company.

Implementing DMARC represents an important step forward in creating a more protected digital environment, benefiting both individuals and businesses.

We invite you to download this free guide to successfully implement DMARC in your organization:

Email authentication

Email authentication uses methods such as SPF and DKIM to ensure that messages come from authentic senders and have not been tampered with in the sending process.

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) allows domain owners to define and specify which servers are authorized to send emails on their behalf, helping to prevent spoofing.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) adds a digital signature to the mail to guarantee that the message has not been modified and that it comes from a legitimate sender.

These methods make it more difficult for attackers to send spoofed emails, reducing the risk of phishing and corporate fraud.

Domain reputation

Ensuring the security and reliability of a domain is essential for emails to reach the inbox and avoid being classified as spam.

A good domain reputation generates confidence in mail servers and users, improving delivery rates and brand perception.

If the domain is considered untrusted or blacklisted, messages will be blocked or automatically sent to the spam folder.

Therefore, taking care of the domain’s reputation is key to avoid fraud and guarantee a successful business communication.

Enterprise cybersecurity solutions

For organizations, allocating resources to IT security tools is essential. The protection of sensitive data and technological infrastructure requires the use of robust systems to detect and mitigate phishing attacks.

Companies can opt for technologies that include network monitoring, security audits and continuous training for staff, fostering a more secure environment for their digital activity.

To have the support of a leading leading cybersecurity service provider such as SupraBT such as SupraBT is essential to ensure the effective protection of a company.

Conclusion: phishing, a serious security problem for companies and SMEs

Phishing is a serious problem that all companies and SMEs should be aware of, as it can cause a lot of damage.

Knowing what phishing is, how it works and what steps you can take to protect yourself significantly reduces the risk of becoming a victim.

Having the services of a company specialized in cybersecurity can offer extra protection against this type of threat.

SupraBT is a technology services and solutions company in LATAM and the United States. ready to support you to achieve success, while taking care of the security of your project.

Do you want to protect your company against potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities?

Contact us

References:

CyberArk (2023). CyberArk 2023 Identity Security Threat Landscape Report. Retrieved from: https://www.cyberark.com/resources/ebooks/cyberark-2023-identity-security-threat-landscape-report

Keepnet Labs (October 14, 2024). Top 40 Phishing Statistics and Trends You Must Know in 2025. Retrieved from: https://keepnetlabs.com/blog/top-phishing-statistics-and-trends-you-must-know

Prey (November 29, 2021). What is Phishing and How to Prevent It. Retrieved from: https://preyproject.com/blog/what-is-phishing-and-spear-phishing

SlashNext (May 22, 2024). SlashNext Mid-Year State of Phishing Report Shows 341% Increase in BEC and Advanced Phishing Attacks. Retrieved from: https://slashnext.com/press-release/slashnext-mid-year-state-of-phishing-report-shows-341-increase-in-bec-and-advanced-phishing-attacks/

Verizon (n.d.). 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report. Retrieved from: https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/

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