Surfing Safely:
Preventing Phishing in a Digital World

Learn how to recognize online scams and how to defend against them to protect your personal information and that of your business.

With the exponential increase in phishing attacks, information is your first line of defense. Discover with 2source4 how you can turn your employees or colleagues into a bulwark against cyber threats through realistic simulations and targeted training. Prepare for phishing attacks with our tips and ensure the integrity of your corporate data.

In this way, we want to make you aware of how phishing scams work and how quickly things can go wrong. With a few simple actions, your security can be seriously compromised.

Want to know how to better protect yourself from these tricks? Then read on.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a type of online scam. Cybercriminals try to trick people into giving away sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords and credit card information. The term “phishing” is a pun on the word “fishing,” as scammers “fish” for victims’ information.

Safe browsing: protect yourself and your data!

If you recognize the right warning signs, you can effectively protect yourself from these threats. Stay tuned and learn how to see through phishing attempts!

The hard numbers

Figures and facts about Phishing you can’t ignore.

Volume of phishing attacks

According to the Anti-Phishing Working Group’s (APWG) “Phishing Activity Trends Report”, the number of phishing attacks reached a record high in 2020, with more than 200,000 attacks reported in October that year.

Costs of phishing for businesses

IBM’s “2021 Cost of a Data Breach Report” revealed that globally, the average cost of a data breach is as high as US$4.24 million, with phishing being one of the common causes.

Most affected sectors

The financial sector is one of the sectors most affected by phishing. According to the APWG report, more than one-third of phishing attacks in 2020 targeted financial institutions.

Impact of phishing on individuals

A 2015 survey conducted by CSID showed that one-fifth of respondents had experienced a phishing attack. Of these, more than 40 percent suffered financial losses as a result of the attack.

Phishing via mobile devices and social media

According to F5 Labs’ “2020 Phishing and Fraud Report”, compared to the previous year, there was a 37 per cent increase in phishing attacks on mobile devices and via social media.

Detection time

The “Verizon 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report” highlighted that while a quarter of phishing attacks are detected within minutes, 40 per cent go undetected for weeks or even months.

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Note

How do you recognise phishing attacks?

01

Grammatical and spelling errors

Explanation:

Phishing emails often contain grammatical and spelling errors because they are written in haste or by non-native speakers.

Example:

An email that says it is from your bank, but contains errors such as “Dear Castomer” or “Please confirm your accunt”.

02

Requests for personal information

Explanation:

Reputable companies rarely if ever ask for sensitive information via e-mail.

Example:

An e-mail asking you to provide your bank account information, your Social Security number or your password.

03

Suspicious links

Explanation:

Links in phishing emails may appear legitimate, but if you hover over them (without clicking), the actual URL is often different from what is displayed.

Example:

A link in an e-mail that appears to take you to your bank’s site, but the actual address is slightly different or oddly worded.

04

Coercive or threatening tone

Explanation:

Scammers try to create a sense of urgency or fear. Thus, they try to induce you to act quickly.

Example:

An email stating that your account will be closed or that there will be serious legal consequences if you do not act immediately.

05

Suspicious email addresses

Explanation:

The sender’s e-mail address may appear legitimate at first glance, but often there are minor discrepancies or differences from the official address.

Example:

An e-mail that appears to come from “support@jouw-bank.nl” appears on closer inspection to be from “support@your-baank.co.uk”.

06

Unsolicited attachments

Explanation:

The sender’s e-mail address may appear legitimate at first glance, but often there are minor discrepancies or differences from the official address.

Example:

An e-mail invites you to download an attachment to view an important document, such as an invoice or legal notice.

Here are some key steps to defending yourself effectively

How do you protect yourself from phishing?

  • 1. Education and awareness

    Meer...

    Get informed: learn to recognize phishing warning signs, such as suspicious emails, links and attachments.

    Continuing education: stay abreast of the latest phishing tactics, as scammers are constantly updating their methods.

  • 2. Verification of sources

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    Check e-mail addresses: check carefully that a sender’s e-mail address is legitimate before responding to an e-mail request.

    Check links: move your mouse over links to see the actual URL before you click. Avoid suspicious links.

  • 3. Use of security tools

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    Antivirus software: make sure you have up-to-date antivirus software that detects and blocks malware and phishing attempts.

    Anti-phishing filters: Use anti-phishing filters offered by most browsers and e-mail clients.

  • 4. Strong password policy

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    Strong and unique passwords: use strong and different passwords for each account.

    Password manager: consider using a dedicated app to manage your login credentials.

    Two-factor authentication (2FA): enable 2FA wherever possible, adding an extra layer of security.

  • 5. Be careful with personal information

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    Don’t share sensitive information: be careful when providing personal information, especially in response to email or phone requests.

    Check information requests: if you receive a suspicious request, contact the organization directly through an official channel.

  • 6. Regular updates

    Meer...

    Update software and operating systems: keep your devices up-to-date to protect yourself from the latest vulnerabilities exploited by criminals.

  • 7. Be careful with mobile devices

    Meer...

    Mobile security: also be very careful with emails and messages you receive on mobile devices. Text messages can also be used for phishing (smishing).

  • 8. Respond to phishing attempts

    Meer...

    Report phishing: if you encounter a phishing attempt, report it to the proper authorities or to the organization the cybercriminal claims to be.

By taking these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim of phishing attacks and protect your personal and financial data.

A fun and interactive quiz where you can test how well you can recognize phishing attempts.

Test your knowledge: can you avoid the trap?

/10

Phishing Quiz

Voel je je er klaar voor?

1 / 10

Je scant snel je inbox na je vakantie. Welke mail verdient extra aandacht?

2 / 10

Wat is de grootste fout die mensen maken bij phishing?

3 / 10

Een e-mail lijkt van Microsoft te komen en meldt dat je wachtwoord vandaag verloopt. Wat is de veiligste actie?

4 / 10

Je krijgt een betaalverzoek van een leverancier met een nieuw rekeningnummer. Wat doe je?

5 / 10

Waarom gebruiken aanvallers vaak bekende merknamen zoals Microsoft, DHL of Rabobank?

6 / 10

Welke van deze kenmerken maakt een e-mail het meest verdacht?

7 / 10

Wat is een veelgebruikte techniek van cybercriminelen om mensen sneller te laten klikken?

8 / 10

Je ontvangt een Teams-chat van een collega met de tekst: "Kun je dit document even bekijken?" en een onbekende link. Wat doe je?

9 / 10

Welke afzender is het meest verdacht?

10 / 10

Je hebt per ongeluk op een verdachte link geklikt. Wat doe je als eerste?

Your score is

0%

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