The DNC phishing attack of 2016, one of the most infamous phishing incidents, still considered a highly sophisticated and coordinated cybersecurity attack targeting the Democratic National Committee, the governing body of the United States’ Democratic Party, forms the prime example of how phishing attacks have evolved in the security landscape. The attack involved multiple techniques, but it was ultimately spearheaded by a phishing email sent to the email account of John Podesta, the chairman of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. The phishing email appeared to be an IT security alert from Google, notifying Podesta that someone had accessed his account and prompting him to change his password. Reality struck, when it was later identified that the email was actually a fake and was designed to victimize Podesta into entering his credentials on a fake website that looked like Google’s login page.
Once the attackers gained access to Podesta’s email account, they were able to access sensitive information, including emails and documents related to the Clinton campaign. The stolen data was then leaked to the public via WikiLeaks, causing significant damage to the Clinton campaign’s reputation and ultimately contributing to her defeat in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election.
The DNC phishing attack of 2016 was a wake-up call for individuals and organizations alike, demonstrating the sophistication and danger of modern phishing attacks. In the aftermath of the attack, there has been increased attention on cybersecurity and the importance of protecting sensitive information from cyber threats like phishing.
What is a Phishing Cybersecurity Attack?
Phishing is a type of cybersecurity attack where attackers attempt to steal sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card numbers by posing as a trustworthy entity. Attackers often use social engineering tactics, such as creating fake websites or emails that mimic legitimate ones, to trick victims into giving up their information.
Phishing attacks can be devastating for individuals and businesses alike, resulting in the loss of sensitive information, financial damage, and reputational harm. To prevent phishing attacks, it is important to be vigilant and cautious when receiving emails or messages that ask for personal information.
How can businesses mitigate phishing cybersecurity attacks?
Even though complete elimination of phishing attacks is not practically possible, businesses can adopt a much cleaner albeit security-tight ecosystem. This ecosystem can encompass-
- Employee Training
Employees are the most robust yet the most vulnerable assets of your organization. Hence, providing a comprehensive training to your employees on phishing attacks, phishy links and what would happen if they click on it, you can to a great extent secure your business operations from falling victim to such acts. Moreover, businesses need to be wary of employees who are driven with an agenda to initiate internal phishing frauds. Identifying such employees and taking swift action can also secure your business operations from being victimized.
- Multi-factor phishing-resistant authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an effective way to prevent phishing attacks by requiring users to provide two or more forms of authentication to access an account. This approach makes it more difficult for attackers to gain unauthorised access to an account even if they have obtained a user’s password through phishing or other means. There are several types of MFA that can be used to enhance security and resist phishing attacks. These include:
- SMS-based MFA
- App-based MFA
- Hardware token MFA
- Biometric MFA
By using multiple factors for authentication, such as a password and a one-time code generated by a mobile app, it becomes more difficult for attackers to gain unauthorized access to an account. This is because even if an attacker is able to obtain a user’s password through phishing or other means, they would also need access to the user’s mobile device or hardware token in order to generate the one-time code required for authentication.
- Revisiting your BYOD policies
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies are guidelines established by organizations that permit employees to use their personal devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops, to access company data or perform work-related tasks. These policies help organizations to reduce hardware expenses, increase employee productivity, and improve employee satisfaction.
However, as technology continues to evolve, it is important to periodically revisit BYOD policies to ensure they are up-to-date and effective. This will address any gaps or concerns, you can help ensure that your organization benefits from increased productivity and employee satisfaction while also maintaining the security and privacy of company data.
- Greater collaboration:
Collaboration among different stakeholders is critical for preventing phishing attacks. Here are some ways that greater collaboration can help to prevent phishing attacks:
- Information sharing
- Collaboration with law enforcement
- Vendor collaboration
By working together, employees, organizations, law enforcement agencies, vendors, and communities can help to prevent phishing attacks and improve the overall security of the digital ecosystem.
- Up-to-date software:
Keeping software up-to-date is an essential step in mitigating phishing attacks on businesses, wherein the practices can include
- Security patches
- Anti-malware software
- Web browsers
- Email clients
- Operating systems
By taking a multi-layered approach to security, businesses can reduce the risk of phishing attacks and protect their sensitive data and systems.
- Improved security on official devices
Improving security on official devices is crucial for protecting business data and systems. Here are some ways to improve security on official devices:
- Virtual Account Numbers (VANs)
- Stronger passwords
- Access controls
- Encryption
- Device management
By implementing these security measures, businesses can improve the security of their official devices and reduce the risk of unauthorized access, fraud, and data breaches. However, it’s important to remember that security is a continuous process, and businesses must remain vigilant and adapt to new threats as they emerge.
Create cyclic phishing attack exercises:
Cyclic phishing attack exercises are a way to train employees to recognize and respond to phishing attacks. These exercises include, but are not limited to-:
- Defining the scope: Determine the scope of the exercise, including the number of employees who will participate, the types of phishing emails that will be sent, and the metrics that will be used to measure success.
- Developing realistic scenarios: Create realistic phishing scenarios that mimic the types of emails that employees are likely to receive in real life.
- Sending the emails: Send the simulated phishing emails to employees and monitor their responses. This could include tracking how many employees clicked on a link or provided sensitive information.
- Providing feedback: After the exercise, provide feedback to employees on their responses. This could include training on how to identify and respond to phishing emails, as well as tips for improving their cybersecurity awareness.
- Repeating the exercise: Repeat the exercise on a regular basis to reinforce training and ensure that employees remain vigilant against new and evolving phishing techniques.
- Adjusting the exercise: Based on the results of the exercise, adjust the scenarios and training to better reflect real-world threats and improve employee responses.
- Lean on expert guidance: Phishing attacks are a significant threat to businesses, and it can be challenging to stay up-to-date on the latest tactics and best practices for preventing them. That’s why it’s important to lean on expert guidance when it comes to phishing attacks. Kodehash technologies is a pro when it comes to dealing with phishing attacks and creating a layer of additional security in the business operations, to improve their cybersecurity posture and reduce the risk of potential attacks.
How Kodehash can assist you in driving the security landscape with fool-proof phishing cybersecurity attack solutions?
One of the most innovative cybersecurity service providers, Kodehash, provides solutions that are client-focused to keep your company risk-free and scale organizations to increase income. Our knowledgeable team of cyber security engineers is committed to providing clients with the most effective and cutting-edge cybersecurity attack tailored solutions to help them achieve their goals securely, without harming their reputation or depleting their financial resources.