Understanding Phishing and Spoofed Emails
Phishing and spoofed emails have unfortunately become common tactics used by cybercriminals to harvest user information illegally. While Microsoft 365 email servers implement rules, protocols, and advanced technology to block most of these attempts, some emails may still slip through.
When you encounter suspicious emails, it is essential to stay vigilant and carefully analyze them before taking any action. Receiving a spoofed email does not necessarily mean an email account has been hacked. If you suspect an email is unsafe or legitimate, notify your IT team so they can review, advise, and block the suspicious email.
Spoofing vs. Phishing
Although spoofing and phishing share similarities, they are distinct cyber threats with different goals and characteristics:
- Spoofing aims to impersonate someone’s identity.
- Phishing aims to steal sensitive information.
Here are some key differences:
- Phishing scams involve fraudulent information theft, whereas spoofing imitates an email address or phone number without directly stealing it.
- Phishing often involves attackers pretending to represent trusted organizations, while spoofing manipulates sender information to impersonate someone.
- Phishing frequently includes fake websites or data collection portals, while spoofing emails exploit trust to breach security or steal information.
What is Email Spoofing?
Email spoofing is a tactic used to deceive recipients into believing the email is from a trusted source, such as a colleague, vendor, or brand. By exploiting trust, attackers may request sensitive information or prompt harmful actions.
Motivation Behind Email Spoofing
Some common motivations for email spoofing include:
- Acquiring sensitive information: Attackers may attempt to collect details like social security numbers or financial data.
- Account takeover: Deceptive emails can lead to compromised login credentials.
- Distributing malware: Spoofed emails can deliver harmful software to computers or networks.
How to Identify Spoofed Emails
Spoofing scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, but there are still signs to watch for:
1. Check for mismatches in email addresses and display names: If the sender’s email address doesn’t match the display name, especially with a suspicious domain, it could be spoofed.
2. Assess the content of the email: Spoofed emails often use alarming or aggressive language to create urgency and provoke impulsive actions.
3. Be wary of personal information requests: Fraudsters frequently impersonate trusted brands or individuals to gather personal data.
4. Search for email content online: Copying and pasting suspicious email text into a search engine can reveal if it has been reported as part of a known phishing attack.
5. Examine the email signature for inconsistencies: If details like phone numbers or titles don’t align with what you know about the sender, it could be spoofed.
6. Avoid clicking links or downloading attachments: Suspicious emails or those from unknown senders should not be interacted with.
Prevention and Awareness
When in doubt, avoid interacting with unknown or suspicious emails. A user-focused approach and heightened awareness are critical to mitigating the risks of costly social engineering attacks. Incorporating Security Awareness Training (SAT) into your ongoing employee education is essential for keeping your team informed and prepared to recognize cyber threats.
VM Tech is here to help you identify, block, and defend against these threats. Contact us for support and guidance.
Virgil Motta
President