How to Empower Employees and Protect Against Phishing Tactics
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Have you ever fallen for a phishing attack? If you have, you’re not alone. According to a 2018 report from Verizon, 30% of phishing messages are opened by employees, and 12% of those result in a click on the malicious link or attachment. So, what can you do to empower your employees and protect against phishing attacks? Here are many tips:
Educate your employees about phishing.
Make sure they know what phishing is and how to spot it. Teach them to be suspicious of unsolicited emails, even if they seem to come from a trusted source. For example, phishing emails may contain typos or other errors, and the sender’s address may not match the name of the company.
Use a managed cybersecurity solution.
A good managed security solution can help you filter out phishing emails before they ever reach your employees’ inboxes. ThrottleNet can help you do this. They offer a variety of services that can help you protect your business, including phishing simulations, security awareness training, and 24/7 monitoring and response.
Implement two-factor authentication.
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to confirm their identity with a second factor, such as a code sent to their phone or generated by an app on their device. This makes it much harder for phishers to gain access to employee accounts.
Stay up to date on the latest phishing tactics.
Keep an eye on the latest phishing trends so you can be sure your employees are aware of the latest threats. For example, phishers are currently targeting Office 365 users with fake Microsoft Teams notifications.
Use strong passwords and password management.
Make sure your employees are using strong, unique passwords for all their accounts. A password manager can help them keep track of all their passwords and ensure they’re using different ones for each account.
Be careful with links and attachments.
Teach your employees to be cautious of links and attachments in emails, even if they seem to come from a trusted source. Phishers can use links and attachments to install malware or steal login credentials.
Keep personal information private.
Remind your employees to keep their personal information private and only share it with trusted sources. Phishers often try to trick people into sharing sensitive information like Social Security numbers or bank account details.
Back up important data.
Make sure your employees know to back up their important data regularly. Phishers sometimes try to encrypt files and demand a ransom to decrypt them. If you have a recent backup, you won’t have to worry about paying the ransom.
Use a reputable antivirus solution.
A good antivirus solution can help protect your employees’ devices from phishing attacks and other malware threats.
By following these tips, you can empower your employees to spot phishing attacks and help protect your business from these dangerous threats.
