I guess it’s not all fun in the sun down on the Cape. Hackers just stole $800,000 from Cape Cod Community College via a phishing attack and some nasty malware.
Details are scarce, but MSSP Alliance has a great overview you can read here: https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-breaches-and-attacks/phishing/hackers-steal-800000-from-college/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendpress&utm_campaign
Social Engineering attacks are nasty things. To refresh yourself on the topic click here: what-is-a-social-engineering-attack
If you don’t have the time to re-read that article we’ve taken some highlights and posted them below.
How can I stop a Social Engineering attack?
That’s a tough question to answer, but there are a few steps you can take to help prevent these kinds of attacks.
- Slow down and control your emotions – Remember the attacker is trying to manipulate your emotions into making a quick reaction. The more time you take to think about the situation the more likely you’ll start to realize something’s up. We might be animals when it comes to our emotions, but we’re also brilliant. By slowing down, our rational brain allows us to overcome our feelings.
- Think about what you’re reading/seeing – The more time you give yourself for rational thought, the better off you are when it comes to seeing through the attacker’s ruse. Look for things like strange word choices or misspellings. Look for visual clues like off-brand graphics (if it comes from someplace like your bank or a store you frequent). You’re more astute than you might give yourself credit for. If something seems off, it probably is.
- Check to see who sent the message – Email masking is incredibly prominent in today’s world. Most email clients format the sender address so that it’s easier to discern who it’s from. The problem is attackers leverage this. If you’ve got the feeling the message you’re reading isn’t on the level check to see who sent it. If the name is familiar, but the email address isn’t there’s a good chance you’re experiencing a social engineering attack.
- Don’t follow blind links – Links are easy to hide, just like email addresses. If you can’t discern where a web-link is going to send you don’t click on it. Always make sure to hover or right-click on an email link (whatever your email client is set up for) to see where it might send you.
- Be wary of attachments – If you’ve gone through the steps mentioned above, you probably know what I’m going to say here. Don’t download attachments from people you don’t know. Heck, sometimes it’s a bad idea to download attachments from people that you do. Be on the lookout for e-mail attachments that appear to be Microsoft Word or Excel files. They might contain pretty nasty surprises.
Aditional Reading: