Phishing scams have been around practically since the beginning of the Internet. Preventing phishing is crucial because it is the most common cyber-attack you and your organization are likely to encounter. Hugely profitable, thousands of people fall victim to them yearly, and they will not go away soon.

A recent Mimecast study analyzed over 28 million emails delivered into corporate inboxes. Nearly 500,000 contained malicious URLs, equating to one phishing email for every 61 emails, increasing more than 125% over the previous quarter.

Preventing phishing, using email, mobile (phone calls/vishing, and text messages /smishing), social channels, the web, or your computer, is the sending of communications designed to get you or your users to react.

Phishing often begins with spam and progressively attempts to steal business-sensitive information and personal information; like bank account numbers and pins, credit card details, etc. This information is then used for various purposes, including identity theft, fraudulently getting funds, crippling computer systems through securing trade secrets, or even sensitive information about national security. However, phishing is often used simply to spread malware; like trojan horses, worms, ransomware, spyware and take actions like opening ports or backdoors for future action quietly rather than immediately soliciting user action.

Preventing phishing “baits” the recipient, with trust, to take any action that gives cybercriminals access to information and devices. Defending against cybercriminals attempting to gain access to your systems and data might look like a technology issue on the surface. And, it’s true that robust email and web filtering are essential to prevent traditional phishing and reduce risk. But, when dealing with more narrowly focused spear-phishing and whaling, addressing the risks created by human behavior becomes vital to giving your organization the best chance of preventing costly breaches.

Think you aren’t a target? Phishing is still alive and well, even if you think your organization is secure. According to a recent study by PhishMe, 91% of cyberattacks begin with spear-phishing emails, and therefore email is the most critical system to protect.

To protect your organization and prevent phishing attacks using best practices, you need to ensure you use a suite of network security, cybersecurity, and human security tools. These allow you to consistently block and avoid phishing emails or text messages, as well as detect those that land in inboxes. This is a critical component to protect against phishing. It’s essential to understand the different channels of communication phishing uses, the methods and lures they employ. This will help you and your employees recognize warning signs and phishing emails using a wide variety of tactics to gain an inside track.

Reinforce your organization’s perimeter to prevent phishing

Phishing attack prevention includes applying three important network security best practices. First, ensure that all employees who connect remotely encrypt their traffic using VPNs, install robust email and web filtering, and reduce the amount of general phishing an employee encounters. Deploy additional network filtering resources, but these are the first three measures to start with.

Encrypt all traffic using TLS to prevent phishing

Start with a simple step. Invest in a reputable VPN with TLS encryption for all your employees, so they can securely use public networks during their business trips, working from home, or in a coffee shop.

Filter all email traffic to prevent phishing

Next, phishing email prevention is critical for ensuring email security, from rejecting and filtering harmful and malicious emails to quarantining them away from user inboxes. A properly configured email gateway with multiple layers will block 99.99% of spam and traditional phish with malicious links or attachments, much like a traditional phish. This means understanding the configuration of a server is crucial in stopping users from receiving most fraudulent phishing emails.

No spam filter solution from a single vendor ever catches everything; that’s why layers are so important. According to a 2021 Verizon report, 90% of confirmed phishing email attacks took place in environments that used Secure Email Gateways (SEGs).

Filter all web traffic to prevent phishing

Content Control or Web Filtering is a network security measure that helps in preventing your users from reaching phishing sites. Microsoft’s SmartScreen filter for Explorer and Edge; and Google’s Safe Browsing initiative (which includes Apple Safari, Firefox, and others) have gone a long way toward improving user safety.

Develop a human firewall with a security-centric culture to prevent phishing

The two most effective phishing prevention methods include employee security awareness training and phishing simulations.

Security Awareness Training to Prevent Phishing

Phishing doesn’t just bypass security technologies; it specifically preys on human mistakes, being fooled by cloned emails, and being too busy to review emails for signs of a scam before reacting to the message.

To create a security-centric culture, you need to provide training in your new hire onboarding process and hold ongoing regular exercises to prevent phishing scams from gaining a foothold in your organization. Regular formal training sessions will help your employees keep current with any changes to your policies, network security practices, as well as new threats that have been observed in the wild or within your network.

Phishing Simulation to Prevent Phishing

Phishing simulations are an ideal way to measure phishing awareness in your organization. Using a phishing simulation to test users helps increase cybersecurity and heightens phishing risk awareness.

Send security updates to employees to prevent phishing

Keep your employees informed and aware of the latest cybersecurity issues. Send employees regular updates about cybersecurity threats and new social engineering scams, and regularly refresh their memories about repeat threats to keep your human firewall strong.

Encourage a “neighborhood watch” to prevent phishing

Involve your employees and encourage a “neighborhood watch”

• Just like a job description, ensure your employees know their role and its related risks. The better employees understand the implications of weak networks and cybersecurity and what they can do to help, the safer your network will be.
• Assign every employee some cybersecurity duties as part of their job.

Continuing to stay safe from phishing

Preventing phishing can be a complex area to tackle, but following the simple tips and advice outlined in this article (and embracing proper phishing prevention tools) — you can significantly minimize your risk of falling victim to digital scammers.

Protect your organization by applying solid network security best practices, monitor and stay awake with cybersecurity monitoring, and develop a security-centric culture.