Stay Alert: Shielding Against Phishing Attacks

November 29, 2023

Phishing attacks remain a potent danger to both individuals and organizations. Picture an innocuous email that seemingly hails from your bank or a familiar institution. Clicking a deceptive link could inadvertently expose your personal information. In 2022, even tech giant Twitter fell prey to a phishing assault on its employees, underscoring the critical importance of remaining vigilant. Here is how the incident unfolded:

  • Attackers sent phishing emails to Twitter employees that appeared to be legitimate emails from Twitter executives
  • The emails contained links that, when clicked, would take the employees to a fake Twitter login page
  • Attackers sent phishing emails to Twitter employees that appeared to be legitimate emails from Twitter executives
  • Once the employees entered their login credentials on the fake page, the hackers were able to steal them
  • The hackers used the stolen credentials to gain access to Twitter’s internal tools and data

Phishing exploits often commence with deceitful emails or text messages, enticing you to click on perilous links or attachments. To help keep us all safe, you can play your part by always exercising caution and always question unfamiliar sources, verify the authenticity of emails and attachments, and be prudent about online information sharing. If you suspect a phishing attempt, report it to IET immediately by calling the Help Desk at 77354 or forward suspicious emails to helpdesk@virginiawestern.edu. The Twitter incident of 2022 serves as a stark reminder that cybersecurity vigilance is paramount. Together, we can fortify our defenses against these cyber threats and safeguard your information. Stay alert and stay secure online!

Here are some interesting statistics about phishing incidents:

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