According to the latest global Kaspersky spam and phishing report, pages impersonating delivery services in 2022 had the highest percentage of clicks on phishing links (27.38%). Online stores (15.56%) placed second, while payment systems and banks ranked third and fourth, respectively.
Cybercriminals exploit the hard-earned reputation of established brands, using their names to engage in criminal activities. By creating websites that mimic authentic brands or online services, they deceive users with accurate and detailed content to phish for login credentials, personal and professional identities, sensitive company, or financial information. This not only leads to data and monetary losses but also poses significant reputational risks, tarnishing the original brand’s image in the eyes of the audience.
To safeguard your brand from potential cyber risks, Olga Svistunova, Web Content Analyst at Kaspersky, advises following these rules:
- Education: Educate both employees and customers on how to recognize phishing emails or websites. Insufficient cybersecurity awareness among company staff can disrupt essential business processes and lead to data leaks. Cybercriminals might hijack corporate social media accounts, engaging in malicious activities on the brand’s behalf. Customers, too, need to be aware of potential threats. Consider conducting cybersecurity training for staff and sending security-awareness emails to customers, explaining how to identify phishing activities.
- Client Awareness: If your business operates in a financial or other sensitive sector that often attracts cybercriminals, inform your clients about the increased risk of deception. Encourage them to be vigilant regarding the emails and messages they receive.
- Reporting Suspicious Activities: Urge customers to report all suspicious activities carried out in your brand’s name. Request screenshots and other evidence to identify suspicious actions promptly.
- Social Media Security: Pay attention to the security settings of your social media accounts. Companies often post information and interact with their audience on external platforms. Be cautious about privacy settings on such platforms, create strong, complex passwords, and enable two-factor authentication, if possible.
- Threat Intelligence Tools: Utilize threat intelligence tools like Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence to detect brand impersonation attacks promptly. These solutions offer real-time notifications about targeted phishing, fake social network accounts, and can assist in monitoring and taking down fake social network accounts and apps in mobile marketplaces.
These practices are crucial in protecting your brand and customers from phishing attacks and maintaining a positive online reputation.