As cyber-criminals refine their tactics, it is essential for employees to be vigilant and know how to respond once they suspect a phishing attack.
Phishing attacks are among the most prevalent and damaging cyber threats, posing serious risks to people and organizations. Phishing tops the list of most common types of data breaches, and they cost organizations millions of dollars on average. As cyber-criminals refine their tactics, it is essential for employees to be vigilant and know how to respond once they suspect a phishing attempt. In this blog, we will go over the key steps to take once you suspect a phishing attack, ensuring that you’re able to protect both your personal information and digital assets. Read on to learn more!
Don’t Engage in the Phishing Attack
If you suspect an email or message that seems malicious, don’t click on any links, download attachments, or respond to any messages. Engaging with the content could trigger malicious software or alert that the email is now active.
Take Screenshots
Capture an image of the suspected message for your own records. This could provide valuable information to your organization’s IT department or law enforcement if required.
Report It to the IT Team Immediately
Immediately inform the IT department or person who is fully responsible for cyber security in your organization. Please provide them with some screenshots and any relevant details about the potentially malicious message.
Mark It as Spam
Use your email client’s features to mark the message as phishing or spam. This will help your email provider filter similar threats when they occur in the future.
Change your Passwords
Delete the suspicious message from your email inbox once reported and verified by your IT team. Use strong and unique passwords for various accounts, and consider using a type of password manager so you do not lose track of them.
Delete the Message
Once it is reported and verified by your IT team, delete the suspicious message from your email inbox, and make sure that it is also removed from your deleted items and trash folder.
Educate Yourself and Your Team
Familiarize yourself with the common phishing tactics and share this knowledge with your colleagues. Normal training and awareness programs can seriously reduce the risk of any phishing attacks for you in the long term. If you report a potential phishing attempt or cyber attack to your organization’s IT team in time, you can entirely prevent the further spreading of the attack. It is crucial to keep this in mind for the future, and we at En-Net Services can help!
En-Net Services Can Help Today
Experience a superior method of getting the public sector technology solutions you need through forming a partnership with En-Net Services. Our seasoned team members are familiar with the distinct purchasing and procurement cycles of state and local governments, as well as Federal, K-12 education, and higher education entities. En-Net is a certified Maryland Small Business Reserve with contract vehicles and sub-contracting partnerships to meet all contracting requirements.