What is Phishing?
Phishing is a type of cyberattack in which criminals impersonate a trustworthy entity, such as a company or individual, to trick victims into disclosing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or bank account details.
Attackers craft emails, texts, phone calls, and fake websites that look legitimate, then pressure or lure users into clicking links, opening attachments, sharing credentials, or approving fraudulent payments. While delivery channels vary, the outcome is the same: unauthorized access, data theft, or business disruption.
How does Phishing work
Phishing works by using social engineering to trick people into revealing sensitive information or performing harmful actions, such as clicking on malicious links or downloading malware.
A typical campaign begins with reconnaissance to learn your brands, executives, vendors, and business calendar. The attacker registers look-alike domains or compromises a trusted sender, then sends messages that mimic invoices, password resets, HR notices, or shipping updates.
Links lead to cloned login pages that harvest credentials, or to files that drop malware. Some attacks escalate into business email compromise, where the criminal hijacks a mailbox, studies conversations, and launches convincing payment requests. The cycle repeats among employees and partners until it is blocked.
Why is it important to know about Phishing Tactics?
It is important to understand common phishing tactics used by hackers because it is a major cyber threat that exploits people to steal personal information, leading to financial losses, identity theft, and data breaches for both individuals and organizations.
Phishing is often the first step in account takeover, ransomware, and wire fraud. Strong authentication and email filtering help, but user decisions remain critical. A program that blends awareness, layered controls, and rapid response lowers incident volume and limits impact when someone inevitably clicks.
Types of Phishing Attacks
Before selecting controls, recognize the main patterns and what features stop them.
Bulk phishing
Spear phishing targeted at specific roles
Whaling aimed at executives
Smishing through SMS
Vishing by voice
OAuth consent phishing that tricks users into granting app permissions
Vendor impersonation
Features of Phishing Prevention Tools
Some of the common features of phishing prevention and detection software include:
Domain authentication (DMARC, SPF, DKIM)
Impersonation detection
Malicious URL and attachment analysis
Account takeover detection
User report buttons
Simulation and training modules
Automated remediation that retracts emails already delivered.
Compatibility with your IT Environment
Plan integrations for your cybersecurity software that meet users where they work.
Identity and MFA: Enforce multi-factor prompts for risky sign-ins. Example: if a harvested password is used from an unfamiliar location, require step-up verification and block access until the user confirms.
Email and collaboration suites: Add a “Report Phish” button to Outlook or Gmail that sends the original to your SOC, opens a ticket, and triggers automated searches and purges across mailboxes.
Vendor communication: Protect payable processes. Example: route supplier bank change requests through a verified portal and require out-of-band voice confirmation before any update.
Browser and endpoint: Apply safe browsing policies, isolate unknown sites, and block macro execution by default. Example: files from external senders open in a protected container unless explicitly trusted.
Threat intelligence and SIEM: Enrich alerts with domain age, reputation, and known campaigns, then correlate with sign-in anomalies and endpoint detections to accelerate containment.
Examples of Phishing Prevention
Finance team invoice scam: A forged vendor domain requests urgent payment. The workflow flags the domain, enforces callback verification, and blocks the transfer.
Credential harvest: A password reset email leads to a fake portal. MFA and conditional access stop the session, and automated playbooks force a password reset and revoke tokens.
Malware delivery: An attachment launches a macro. Endpoint controls stop execution, the email is retracted from all inboxes, and indicators are added to blocklists.
FAQs about Phishing
Are simulations necessary?
Yes, measured practice improves reporting rates and reduces risky clicks.
Will MFA stop phishing?
It significantly reduces account takeover, but approval fatigue and token theft still require user vigilance and device security.
How should we train executives?
Use short, role-specific modules and realistic scenarios, such as wire fraud and travel-related lures.
Executive Takeaway
Phishing will target your people every day. A well-structured program that blends clear processes, layered defenses, and a service-oriented approach can turn everyday mistakes into manageable incidents.
Your team should align security controls with user behavior, ensure visibility across endpoints and email platforms, and partner with vendors that offer rapid containment and a traceable response.
