Phishing attacks remain the most common cybercrime for a simple reason—they work. Every day, over 3.4 billion spam emails flood inboxes worldwide, and phishing emails have consistently held the top spot as the most frequent form of attack. They’re easy to create, easy to scale, and effective at deceiving even the savviest users. With AI tools like ChatGPT making it easier than ever for cybercriminals to craft convincing emails, the threat is only growing. If you’re not vigilant, the consequences of falling for a phishing scam can be devastating.

In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we’ve developed this straightforward guide to help you and your team spot phishing emails and understand why doing so is crucial.

The Risks of Phishing: 4 Major Threats

1. Data Breaches

Phishing attacks can expose your organization’s sensitive data to cybercriminals. Once compromised, this information can be sold on the dark web or held for ransom. Even if you pay, there's no guarantee the data will be returned. The fallout includes financial and legal repercussions, damage to your reputation, and loss of customer trust.

2. Financial Loss

Phishing emails often aim to steal money directly from businesses, whether through fraudulent invoices or unauthorized transactions. Falling victim can directly impact your bottom line.

3. Malware Infections

Phishing emails can contain malicious attachments or links that, when clicked, can infect your systems with malware. This can disrupt operations, lead to data loss, and necessitate costly remediation efforts.

4. Compromised Accounts

If employees fall for phishing scams, their accounts can be compromised. Attackers can then use these accounts to launch further attacks or gain unauthorized access to sensitive company data.

Introducing the S.E.C.U.R.E. Method: Your Defense Against Phishing Emails.

Here’s a simple method you and your employees can use to identify phishing emails and stay secure:

  • S – Start with the Subject Line: Is it unusual? Look for signs like odd phrases or excessive forwarding (e.g., “FWD: FWD: FWD: review immediately”).
  • E – Examine the Email Address: Do you recognize the sender? Is the email address slightly misspelled or different from what you usually see from that person?
  • C – Consider the Greeting: Is the salutation strange or overly generic (e.g., “Hello Ma’am!”)?
  • U – Unpack the Message: Is there a sense of extreme urgency to click a link, download an attachment, or act on an offer that seems too good to be true?
  • R – Review for Errors: Are there grammatical mistakes or odd misspellings? These can be red flags.
  • E – Evaluate Links and Attachments: Hover over links before clicking to check the destination address, and avoid opening attachments from unknown senders or unexpected emails.

Take Action: Protect Your Network

It’s crucial to have a cybersecurity expert monitor your network and filter out email spam before it reaches your employees. Phishing attacks are real and frequent—we don’t want your business to be the next victim.

If you need assistance training your team on cybersecurity best practices, implementing a robust cybersecurity system, or simply getting a second opinion on your current defenses, our team is here to help. Call us at 504-470-0625 or click here to schedule a consultation. Protect your business today before it's too late.