Phishing Simulation & Team Training Platform

Last month, I received an email from our bank that looked completely legitimate. The logo was correct, the tone was professional, and the message was about an important security update that required immediate action. I was about to click the link when I suddenly noticed that the sender's email address looked a bit odd. Instead of @bank.se, it said @bank-security.com. It was a phishing attack, and it came very close to succeeding.

This experience is not unique. Phishing attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and often target small businesses that may lack comprehensive security resources. According to recent statistics, the number of phishing attacks is increasing by over 40 percent per year, and small businesses are particularly vulnerable because they often lack dedicated IT security teams.

In this article, we'll go through the five most common types of phishing attacks threatening businesses today, and we'll give you practical advice on how to protect your team. We'll also share concrete examples of what these attacks look like in real life.

1. Email Phishing: The Classic Attack

Email phishing is the most common form of attack and accounts for over 90 percent of all phishing attempts. Attackers send emails that appear to come from legitimate sources like banks, suppliers, colleagues, or popular services like Microsoft or Google.

I've seen many examples of these attacks. A common variant is emails claiming to come from suppliers and requiring you to pay an invoice by clicking a link. Another common type is messages from the IT department saying your password must be reset immediately.

These emails often contain links to fake websites that look almost identical to the real ones. When users enter their login credentials on these pages, attackers gain direct access to the accounts.

How to protect yourself against email phishing:

Always check the sender's email address carefully. Even if the name looks correct, the email address might be wrong. Look for small differences like extra hyphens, misspellings, or different domains.

Hover over links before clicking. Most email programs show the actual URL when you hover over a link. If the link looks suspicious, don't click on it.

Be suspicious of emails that require immediate action. Legitimate organizations rarely give such urgent deadlines. If something is truly urgent, call the organization directly instead.

Look for spelling and grammatical errors. Professional organizations rarely have errors in their official messages. Even though attackers are getting better, there are often small signs that the message is not authentic.

2. Spear Phishing: The Personal Attack

Spear phishing is more targeted and dangerous than regular email phishing. Instead of sending thousands of generic messages, attackers target specific individuals or organizations.

I remember a case where an attacker had studied a CEO's LinkedIn profile and social media. The attacker then sent an email to the finance department that appeared to come from the CEO. The message referred to a specific project the CEO was actually working on, which made it very credible. The email asked for a quick payment to a supplier, and the finance manager almost approved the payment before someone realized it was a scam.

Spear phishing often uses information from social media to make the attack more credible. Attackers can refer to specific projects, colleagues, events, or even personal details to get the recipient to trust the message.

How to protect yourself against spear phishing:

Be careful with information you share on social media. Remember that everything you publish can be used by attackers. Avoid sharing too much information about your projects, colleagues, or internal processes.

Verify important requests via phone or direct message. If someone asks for something unusual or sensitive, especially if it involves money or sensitive information, contact the person directly through another medium.

Use two-factor authentication for extra security. Even if someone gets hold of your login credentials, they also need your phone or another device to log in.

Create clear procedures for payments and sensitive transactions. By having clear rules about how these should be handled, you can prevent team members from acting on impulse when they receive suspicious requests.

3. Vishing: The Phone Attack

Vishing, or voice phishing, uses phone calls or voice messages to trick victims into revealing sensitive information. This is particularly dangerous because many people trust voices more than text messages.

A common vishing attack works like this: You receive a call from someone claiming to be from your bank. The person sounds professional and may even have information about your account, which they got from previous data breaches. They say there have been suspicious activities on your account and that you must verify your identity by providing your password or PIN code.

Attackers can also use techniques to spoof phone numbers, making it look like the call is really coming from your bank. This is called number spoofing and makes it much harder to identify the attack.

How to protect yourself against vishing:

Always call back on an official number instead of responding to incoming calls. If someone calls and says they're from your bank or another organization, say you'll call back. Use the number from the organization's official website, not the number the attacker gives you.

Remember that banks and legitimate organizations never ask for passwords over the phone. If someone asks for your password, PIN code, or other sensitive information over the phone, it's almost always a scam.

Be suspicious of calls that require immediate action. Legitimate organizations give you time to think and verify the information. If someone pressures you to act immediately, it's often a warning sign.

Educate your team about vishing. Many people are not aware that phone attacks are so common. By informing your team, you can increase awareness and reduce the risk of successful attacks.

4. Smishing: The SMS Attack

Smishing, or SMS phishing, uses text messages to trick recipients into clicking links or responding with sensitive information. These messages can claim to be from suppliers, the bank, the post office, or other services.

I regularly receive SMS messages claiming to be from the postal service saying I have a package waiting. The message contains a link I must click to schedule delivery. Even though these messages are often obvious scams, I've seen many people, especially older ones, click on the links.

Another common type of smishing is messages from the bank saying your card has been blocked and you must verify your identity by clicking a link. These messages can be particularly effective because they exploit fear and urgency.

How to protect yourself against smishing:

Never click links in SMS from unknown numbers. Even if the message looks legitimate, it's best to be cautious. If the message claims to be from an organization you know, contact them directly instead.

Verify messages by contacting the organization directly. Use official contact information from the organization's website, not information from the SMS message.

Don't use SMS to share sensitive information. Legitimate organizations rarely use SMS to ask for passwords, PIN codes, or other sensitive information.

Be suspicious of messages with spelling errors or odd grammar. Even though attackers are getting better, there are often signs that the message is not authentic.

5. Social Engineering: The Manipulation

Social engineering uses psychological techniques to manipulate people into revealing information or performing actions. This is not a specific technique but rather a methodology that can be used via email, phone, in person, or in other ways.

Social engineering builds on exploiting people's natural tendency to trust others and help out. A common technique is to create a sense of urgency or authority. Attackers might, for example, claim to be from the IT department and say they need your password to fix an urgent problem.

Another common technique is to use information that's already publicly available to build trust. An attacker might, for example, mention details about your company they found on your website or social media, making the attack more credible.

How to protect yourself against social engineering:

Educate your team about social engineering techniques. By understanding how attackers think and work, your team can get better at identifying attacks.

Implement clear procedures for verifying identity. If someone asks for sensitive information or actions, there should always be a process to verify that the person is who they claim to be.

Create a culture where it's okay to question suspicious requests. Many people feel uncomfortable saying no or questioning authorities, but this is important for security.

Use the principle of least privilege. Give team members only the information and access they need for their work. This reduces the risk of sensitive information ending up in the wrong hands.

Practical Steps to Protect Your Team

Now that we've gone through the different types of phishing attacks, let's look at some practical steps you can take to protect your team.

First and foremost, education is key. Regular security training helps your team get better at identifying and avoiding phishing attacks. This doesn't need to be complicated. Short, regular sessions are often more effective than long, infrequent training.

Second, use phishing simulations. By regularly sending safe test messages to your team, you can see how they react and identify areas that need more training. This also gives you data about which team members need extra support.

Third, implement technical safeguards. Email filters, two-factor authentication, and other technical solutions can help catch many attacks before they reach your team.

Finally, create a culture of security. By making security part of the daily culture, rather than something only discussed at annual training sessions, you can create a more aware and cautious team.

Conclusion

Phishing attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, but by understanding the different types of attacks and implementing the right protections, you can significantly reduce the risk. The best protection against phishing attacks is a combination of technical security and education.

By regularly training your team and using tools like phishing simulations, you can increase awareness and reduce the risk of successful attacks. Remember that security is not a one-time measure but a continuous process. By staying updated on the latest threats and regularly training your team, you can protect your business against most phishing attacks.

Start today by educating your team about the most common types of phishing attacks and implementing basic protections. Every step you take toward better security is a step closer to a safer business.