Cisco Talos, the threat intelligence arm of Cisco, has released a report highlighting an increase in phishing attacks targeting Microsoft Office 365 users. The report found that the number of phishing emails targeting Office 365 users increased by 25% in the first quarter of 2023.
The phishing emails typically attempt to trick users into clicking on a malicious link or providing their login credentials. The malicious links can lead to websites that download malware onto the user’s computer, or they can redirect the user to a fake login page where the attacker can steal their credentials.
The report also found that the phishing emails are becoming more sophisticated. The attackers are using techniques such as social engineering and spear phishing to target specific users. Social engineering is a technique that attempts to trick the user into taking an action that they would not normally take. Spear phishing is a targeted attack that is specifically designed to trick a specific user.
To protect yourself from phishing attacks, Cisco Talos recommends the following:
- Be suspicious of any email that asks for your personal information, such as your login credentials or credit card number.
- Do not click on links in emails unless you are sure that they are legitimate.
- If you are unsure about an email, hover your mouse over the link to see the actual URL.
- Use a strong password and two-factor authentication for your Office 365 account.
- Keep your software up to date.
- Be aware of the latest phishing trends.
By following these tips, you can help to protect yourself from phishing attacks.
Here are some additional tips for protecting yourself from phishing attacks:
- Use a security solution that can detect and block phishing emails. There are a number of security solutions that can detect and block phishing emails. These solutions can scan emails for known phishing patterns and block them from reaching your inbox.
- Educate your employees about phishing attacks. Phishing attacks are often successful because employees are not aware of them. By educating your employees about phishing attacks, you can help them to spot them and avoid clicking on malicious links.
- Have a plan in place in case of a phishing attack. If an employee does click on a malicious link, it is important to have a plan in place to mitigate the damage. This plan should include steps to remove the malware from the employee’s computer and to change their passwords.
By following these tips, you can help to protect your organization from phishing attacks.
We need to do everything we can to protect ourselves from these attacks.