Blog | Ironchip

The ultimate key to avoid phishing attacks

Written by Jose Fernando Gómez | Sep 13, 2022

Imagine you receive a phishing campaign, asking for your password and a one-time password. But what password are you going to give if you don't use any? This is the most effective prevention against phishing and the one your company should implement: the passwordless system, with continuous intrusion detection based on multiple factors.

Phishing attacks only try to obtain a password, so by not using it, users do not take the bait. There is no doubt that we are facing a wave of cyber-attacks worldwide. Why are most companies unprepared? Because they use outdated authentication methods (passwords, one-time codes via SMS or generated by an application), instead of taking into account the digital identity (such as the device, biometric factors, location or behavior).

A Zero-Trust approach is needed that constantly analyzes its security posture, without treating the user as if he were a criminal, as the currently most used methods do by forcing the user to enter codes over and over again to verify his identity.

 

What is phishing?

Phishing is a type of fraud that is generally committed via email, although other means can be used, such as SMS messages (smishing), social networks, instant messaging applications or phone calls (vishing), and whose main objective is to steal confidential information and access credentials.

In order to deceive victims, cybercriminals often impersonate well-known companies and organizations, such as banking or public entities, energy companies or logistics companies, among others.

Phishing-type cyberattacks contain a link in the body of the message that leads to a fraudulent web page, generally with the same aesthetics as the legitimate web page it is trying to impersonate (web spoofing).

 



"The user should always use common sense and be wary of any suspicion of phishing. But the company must protect and anticipate them, constantly analyzing its security posture, without treating the user as if he were a criminal, as the most commonly used methods do today, forcing the user to enter codes again and again to verify his identity."