Top 7 Ways to Prevent a Successful Phishing Attack on Your Remote Team

There has been an increase in cybersecurity risks as more companies switch to remote workers.

CNBC conducted a survey and found that over a third of senior technology executives believe cybersecurity risks have increased as a result of the fact that most of their employees work remotely.

Communication that used to take place in a secured corporate network can now be done at home. This gives hackers the opportunity to exploit weaknesses in business’ communications protocols and gain access to sensitive data.

According to statistics, over 60,000 phishing websites were reported in March 2020. 96% of targeted attacks are intended to collect intelligence.

These seven tips will help you prevent successful phishing attacks on remote teams if you manage one.

1. Increase email security

It is easy to avoid phishing attacks by blocking the email source. Although the Office 365 – Exchange Online Protection (EOP), the anti-phishing solution can block spam and other phishing attacks it cannot effectively block zero-day threats.

To enhance email security, you need layered defenses. A third-party anti-spam and antiphishing solution is a good option. It should have advanced anti-phishing tools and predictive threat detection to detect zero-day threats.

SpamTitan is a great choice because it offers machine learning, threat intelligence feeds, and dual antivirus engines. It also features predictive technology and sandboxing to increase security and ensure that zero-day threats can be blocked.
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2. Watch out for keyloggers

Credential theft via a keylogger is another security risk that is growing in popularity. Keylogger software can track keystrokes you make while you type.

Hackers can use keyloggers to scan your keys and find sensitive information such as passwords and usernames.

This cyberattack is hard to spot as hackers can log into your computer as you. You can click on malicious attachments or click on phishing emails to install the program.

3. Use a web filter

Web filtering is a way to prevent your team members from clicking on and viewing suspicious URL links. Web filtering prevents your team from loading URLs or sites connected to them via their browser.

This can be an added layer to your system. You can block websites that are more susceptible to phishing or malware attacks. The web filter can prevent your team members from clicking on suspicious URLs if a phishing email arrives in your inbox.

There are many online tools that you can use to help protect your office from web-based attacks. These tools allow you to modify and set different controls based on the browsing habits of your team.
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4. Do not click on the link

Even if you know the sender, be extra cautious when you get emails or instant messages asking for you to click on a hyperlink. You can hover over the link to verify that it is correct.

Hackers use sophisticated tools to phish sites. Some URLs can appear exactly like the real thing. Instead of clicking on the link, use your search engine to direct you directly to the website.

5. Find phishing emails

It is important to teach employees how to spot phishing emails quickly. This will help protect them from being hacked. Hackers use real company logos to create fake emails. It is difficult to identify red flags if you don’t know what you are looking at.

These elements should be kept in mind when identifying phishing emails.

• Hackers are unlikely to have email writers, so they often make mistakes. This is why it’s important to flag any typos or unclear text.
• Phishing emails are often generic and don’t include your name, reference or any other identifying information. This is because hackers don’t care to personalize emails.
• Phishing emails will not have a domain name if you look at the sender’s address. While most reputable companies have their domain emails, hackers can change the address even though they may have tried to make it look authentic.
• Hackers often send unwelcome attachments to their victims or request sensitive information via email.

6. Use two-factor authentication and strong passwords

Two-factor authentication provides an additional layer of security and protects users’ credentials. It also allows them to access sensitive company data from hackers. For an extra layer of protection, consider using Yubico YubiKey security keys to prevent phishing.

Ask your employees to create strong passwords, and to use different passwords for different services. It will protect other accounts from hackers if a password is revealed during a data breach.

7. Provide company-wide cybersecurity training

Security-savvy employees are the best defense against phishing attacks within your company. Therefore, it is crucial to provide security training for all employees to protect your company’s data.

This training can be integrated into your onboarding process. You can also schedule refresher courses. To train remote employees, consider using employee learning software.

Whatfix’s in-app training programs allow you to train your employees as needed and provide insights into how training effectiveness is measured. Your employees have access to all training resources through your web application.

Your program should be as effective as possible to engage employees. But that’s not all. Make sure your employees know what to do if they spot something suspicious.
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Wrapping up

Since remote work has increased, phishing attacks against businesses and companies have also seen an increase. Your top concern should be to protect your company’s data and employees’ credentials.

Enhance your email security. Also, be aware of keyloggers and use a web filter. You should also avoid clicking on links without verifying that the destination is correct. Learn how to spot phishing emails, create strong passwords and implement two-factor authentication. Keep up-to-date with the latest cybersecurity trends.