There are always going to be those who want to use your hard-earned data and assets to turn a profit. One of the emergent methods for hackers to do so is through twisting the “as a service” business model into network security’s worst nightmare. This type of security issue is so serious that Microsoft has declared that Phishing-as-a-Service is a major problem. Cybersecurity and Phishing are constantly in battle.  

Cybersecurity & Phishing-as-a-Service 

Phishing-as-a-Service is not a new concept, and neither is the idea of adopting the “as a service” business model in the context of hacking. The difference between those items and now is that ransomware exists, and it’s one of the more dangerous threats out there to be sure. 

The service entails organizations and groups that sell their clients products like website templates, email delivery, hosting, and credential theft. These services are provided in the form of fully unidentifiable links. The service provider hosts these resources on their servers and works to harvest credentials on behalf of their clients. While the credentials can be stolen—and yes, this is bad—they can also be sold on the Dark Web to others.  

A different service also uses what is called “double-theft” where the provider steals credentials for one customer and sells them to another. As you can imagine, this affects the ransomware workflow, as attackers can use these credentials to infiltrate networks and encrypt systems, forcing those on the receiving end to pay up. 

Ways To Protect Against Phishing 

It’s more important than ever before to ensure that your team knows how to deal with these attacks, instead of giving in to them. Here are four ways you can identify common phishing attempts. 

• Who’s sending the message? You should never trust an email from someone you don’t recognize, especially if they’re requesting sensitive information like your Social Security number or credit card number. If you’re unsure about the identity of the sender, hover over their name to see if the domain matches their identity.  

• Does the email demand immediate action? Hackers don’t have the patience to wait for you to identify them as phonies, so they’ll often rush you into giving up your information before you can even question them. Attackers will try to convince users that their response is of the utmost importance, and some will even offer incentives if you “claim your prize NOW!”  

• Are the URLs in the email legitimate? Hackers will often use fake URLs to lure users to phony websites. Instead of falling into these traps, hover over URLs to ensure they are legitimate. If the site they’re posing as is one which normally has site encryption, look for [https://] in the link. If it doesn’t, try navigating to the official site in a separate browser window to ensure it is legitimate. 

• Is the message just plain text? Most organizations use a combination of images and HTML in their email messages. If a message you receive consists only of text and hyperlinks, you’ll know that something is wrong. In some cases, hackers will simply make the message a whole clickable image, so be sure to take precautions when viewing questionable emails. 

Of course, the best way to keep phishing attacks at bay is by eliminating them before they even reach your inbox. With Symmetric IT Group’s comprehensive spam blocking solution and IT Services in Florida, you’ll have little fear of encountering phishing attacks. Still, it’s always best to approach any suspicious messages with skepticism. 

Protect Your Business Today 

Symmetric IT Group can help your Florida business overcome the many challenges that come with cybersecurity. To learn more, reach out to us at 813-749-0895. Now is not the time to slow your cybersecurity spending. We help provide Managed IT Services and Cybersecurity Stacking to many local businesses. 

Attacks like phishing scams tend to bypass your security measures, which makes them dangerous. Find out how you can best protect your business from phishing attacks. Contact Symmetric IT Group today at (813) 749-0895 and ask us about our IT Services in Florida and spam protection Custom Business Solutions.