What is Phishing?

Phishing is a type of cyber attack where attackers attempt to trick people into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details or personal data. The attack typically takes place via fake emails, text messages or websites pretending to be legitimate companies or authorities. The goal is to get victims to click on malicious links, download malware or provide personal information that the attackers can then misuse.

Phishing is one of the most widespread cyber threats because it exploits human trust rather than technical vulnerabilities. Attackers often use social engineering techniques to create a sense of pressure or urgency so that the victim acts without thinking. Many phishing attempts look credible and mimic well-known organisations such as banks, social media or government agencies.

Different types of phishing

Phishing attacks come in several flavours, each with different methods and targets:

• Email phishing: The most common form, where attackers send fake emails containing malicious links or attachments.
• Spear phishing: A more targeted attack where hackers pretend to be a person or organisation that the victim trusts.
• Vishing (voice phishing): A phone-based method where attackers pretend to be, for example, bank advisors or support staff.
• Smishing (SMS phishing): Using fake text messages to lure the recipient into providing sensitive information or clicking on dangerous links.
• Pharming: A technique where hackers redirect traffic from legitimate websites to fake login pages to obtain usernames and passwords.

These attacks often exploit fear or time pressure to get victims to react quickly, for example by claiming that their bank account has been compromised or that they need to verify their login to avoid being locked out of a service.

Example of a phishing attack

In August 2022, 7-Eleven in Denmark was hit by an extensive cyberattack that led to the closure of all 175 stores in the country. The attack, initially suspected to be a technical glitch, quickly turned out to be a ransomware attack where hackers locked the company's systems and demanded a ransom to restore access.

The attack highlighted how vulnerable even large organisations can be to cyber threats and how important it is to have strong security measures, regular employee training and a contingency plan to deal with phishing and ransomware attacks.

Although the details of how the attackers gained access were not made public, phishing is often a key method in such attacks. Hackers send targeted emails to employees that appear to come from a trusted source, such as a manager or external partner. If an employee clicks on a malicious link or downloads an attachment, malware can be installed and give the attackers access to company systems.

5 tips to protect yourself against phishing

To avoid falling into a phishing trap, it's important to be aware and take precautions:

1. Be sceptical of unsolicited messages: Recipients should always check the sender address and be wary of emails or text messages that ask for sensitive information.
2. Avoid clicking on suspicious links: If a message seems suspicious, visit the organisation's official website directly instead of following links in the message.
3. Use two-factor authentication (2FA): Even if a password is compromised, 2FA can prevent unauthorised access to an account.
4. Keep software and security systems up to date: Many phishing attacks attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in older software, so it's important to install the latest updates.
5. Check URLs and web addresses carefully: Hackers often use domains that look like legitimate sites but have slight changes in spelling.

Consequences of phishing attacks

If a phishing attack is successful, the consequences can be severe. For individuals, it can lead to identity theft, financial fraud and loss of personal data. Many victims also experience psychological stress as their sensitive information can be misused for further fraud.

For organisations, phishing can result in data breaches, financial losses and reputational damage. A single compromised login can give hackers access to internal systems, which can lead to large-scale security breaches. Many organisations also experience financial losses in the form of ransom demands or fines for lack of data security.

FAQ - Frequently asked questions