Any business owner in the modern world already knows about phishing. It has been around for decades, as criminal “conman” practices use fraudulent emails or other written items to fool readers. People believe the document derives from a legitimate source, perhaps due to a copied letterhead or a realistic email address, so they follow the prompts to reveal credit card numbers, passwords, and other personal information.
Now, vishing and quishing are following suit. As a business owner, you’ll want to pay attention.
What Is Vishing? The Business of Voice-Phishing
Vishing is a subcategory of phishing using “voice” methods. It leverages ever-evolving AI technology to steal sensitive information but with a phone number rather than traditional phishing emails.
A vishing attack might call someone posing as anything from government agents to employers like you. Other attackers plant a number somewhere and victims contact them unknowingly.
How Does Vishing Affect Your Business?
If hackers use voice phishing while pretending to be part of your business, they’ll ask questions verbally. Their goal is still to trick your customers into revealing personal data, but these vishing perpetrators may also convince customers to:
- Download software.
- Click on fake emails.
- Visit faux websites while on the phone, inevitably installing malware.
If a scammer claims to be an employee at your trusted bank, they could uncover and falsely warn your business’s account holders of frozen accounts or missing funds. Then, they might ask the customer for their bank account information and social security number. In the end, it looks as though your company has stolen or sold client data!
What Is Quishing? The Business of QR-Phishing
Quishing, similar to vishing, is a cyber threat that uses QR codes instead of phony links or voice prompts. When a victim scans a malicious QR code, their device is directed to a fraudulent login page that closely mimics the legitimate one. Entering credentials on this page compromises the user’s account and sensitive information.
How Does Quishing Affect Your Business?
Imagine you own a retail shop. A cybercriminal could mimic your email layout to create a convincing fake version, sending customers messages with enticing offers like an unrealistic sale or urgent notifications about lost shipments.
Do your customers trust your business and its employees? Could they inadvertently sign into these fake login pages? If so, your company’s information could be exposed to malware and ransomware, jeopardizing both your business and customer data.
How To Protect Your Business From Phishing Threats
It’s also wise for a business to train and retrain its employees on a regular basis. Can your team properly identify and deal with threats, including phishing?
Teach them to NEVER:
- Click on links or scan codes from unknown sources.
- Believe anyone demanding urgent action or making suspicious requests without checking with a manager or authority.
- Use an unprotected web browser or software.
Simple security awareness training programs can help your business immensely against cyber threats like vishing and quishing. As the boss, you can also install MFA that uses time-sensitive passwords and email security solutions with QR code detection. Defensive tools for businesses are out there.
Phishing attacks pose a significant threat to businesses of all sizes. These deceptive tactics can lead to data breaches, financial losses, and damage to your company’s reputation. Protecting your business requires a combination of employee training and robust security measures.
Employee Training: It’s crucial to ensure your team can identify and respond to phishing threats. Implement regular security awareness training programs that cover the following:
- Recognizing Suspicious Links and Codes: Train employees to never click on links or scan QR codes from unknown sources. Encourage them to verify the legitimacy of any unexpected communications.
- Handling Urgent and Suspicious Requests: Educate your team to be cautious of anyone demanding urgent action or making suspicious requests. They should always verify such requests with a manager or authority figure.
- Safe Browsing Practices: Ensure employees use protected web browsers and updated software to prevent vulnerabilities.
Implementing Security Measures: As a business leader, you can bolster your company’s defenses with these tools:
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Deploy MFA solutions that use time-sensitive passwords to add an extra layer of security.
- Email Security Solutions: Invest in email security solutions that include QR code detection to prevent phishing attempts through emails.
By combining comprehensive employee training with advanced security tools, you can significantly reduce the risk of phishing attacks on your business. If you still need help, we are here! Just give us a call today 225-224-6595.
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