Phishing is a cyberattack technique used to trick someone into disclosing sensitive information, such as a password, bank card details or business data. To do this, cybercriminals impersonate a trusted organisation, such as a bank, supplier, public service or even a colleague.
In most cases, phishing takes the form of an email, but it can also be carried out via text message (smishing), phone calls (vishing), social media or fake websites designed to closely imitate legitimate ones. The message usually encourages the victim to act quickly: click on a link, open an attachment, confirm a payment or update their login details.
Phishing is one of the main entry points for cyberattacks today. A single mistake can allow a hacker to gain access to a company’s IT systems, deploy ransomware, steal confidential data or divert payments. The consequences can be serious: business disruption, financial losses, data breaches and damage to the organisation’s reputation.
To protect against phishing, several good practices are essential: carefully check the sender’s email address, never click on suspicious links, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), keep software up to date and regularly train employees to recognise fraud attempts. Email security solutions, such as anti-phishing filters and SPF, DKIM and DMARC protocols, can also significantly reduce the risks.
The best defence against phishing combines effective technology with user awareness. By adopting a preventive approach, companies can greatly reduce the risk of a simple email becoming the starting point for a major cyberattack.