Understanding phishing: A guide to cybersecurity threats 

Imagine this: you suddenly receive a message that encourages you to verify your account as soon as possible. Without any second thoughts, you click on the link and fill in your details, only to find out your funds are gone. You just became a victim of phishing.   

Over the years, phishing has remained a constant cybersecurity threat. It continues to evolve with the emergence of AI. Cybercriminals are using new technology to accelerate their attacks and gain access to sensitive information.   

As an online store owner, it is with utmost importance that you and your website are equipped for phishing attacks. This guide will help you understand what phishing is and its different types and give you practical tips to defend against it.   

What is phishing?  

Phishing is a type of cyberattack where scammers pretend to be legitimate entities and trick users into revealing private and sensitive data (such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal and financial information).  It often involves creating fraudulent websites designed to look identical to official banking, eCommerce, or email service provider pages. 

It is usually conducted through email but can also be sent through messages (smishing), phone calls (vishing), and social media (pharming). Attackers or scammers use fake websites, malicious links, and social engineering tactics, which entail urgency to deceive users, businesses, and large organizations. 

Around 3.4 billion phishing attacks are sent daily by email, and it is projected to grow in 2025 with the emergence of AI-assisted scams and cyberattacks.  Scammers are using AI-driven phishing attacks to create highly personalized, convincing messages that copy legitimate communication. This makes it harder for victims to identify and avoid them.   

A successful phishing attack can lead to potential financial losses, data breaches, and identity theft. For this reason, companies and businesses are urged to provide training for their employees on how to detect and avoid phishing scams.   

6 common types of phishing attacks  

To avoid a phishing attack, you first need to learn the different types of phishing. Scammers can send you malicious links through different kinds of platforms, so you always need to be on the lookout.   

Listed below are some of the common types of phishing attacks:   

Email phishing   

This is one of the most common phishing attacks in the corporate industry. Scammers send mass phishing emails to thousands of users through email, which eventually causes major data breaches. Attackers mimic trusted organizations such as banks, eCommerce sites, or government agencies to gain access to sensitive corporate information.   

Example: You suddenly receive an email from PayPal that contains a warning about “suspicious activity” that aims to steal your login credentials.   

Spear phishing  

Another form of phishing attack is spear phishing. This is a targeted form of phishing that attempts to gather your personal information so attackers can appear legitimate. Scammers target specific individuals or groups and trick them into revealing sensitive information or clicking malicious links.   

Example: One of the most elaborate spear phishing attacks happened when Evaldas Rimasauskas scammed Facebook and Google out of over $100 million. He was able to pull off the attack by creating a fake company that resembled a legitimate supplier and sending fraudulent invoices.   

This attack shows that even large and established companies can still fall prey to well-executed spear phishing.  

Whaling  

Whaling is a highly targeted phishing attack which aims to deceive top executives. Scammers create personalized emails to deceive these high-profile individuals into disclosing sensitive information or transferring funds. It’s almost the same with spear phishing, the only difference is that whaling is more focused on the “bigger fish” within an organization.   

Example: In 2016, FACC AG, an Austrian aeronautics company, became a victim to a business email compromise (BEC) scam. A Chinese national was able to gain unauthorized access to the company’s email server. Gaining this access helped the scammer study the CEO’s writing habits and quirks to make their phishing messages look real and legitimate.  

Smishing  

Smishing or SMS phishing is another type of phishing where attackers send false text messages to deceive victims into clicking links that leads to fake sites and ask for personal information. They try to get victims to install malware or divulge private information by instilling a sense of urgency or offering incentives.  

Example: One of the most common smishing attacks are package delivery scams. A lot of people receive text messages claiming to be from delivery services such as FedEx or UPS, stating that a package delivery has failed. Messages often include links to “reschedule” your delivery but clicking the link will redirect you to a malicious website where they can steal your personal information.  

Vishing  

Vishing or voice phishing is deceiving individuals via phone calls. They generate a sense of urgency or panic by posing as reputable organizations, such as banks. Their goal is to deceive victims into sending money or disclosing private information. Attackers now use voice cloning or deepfakes to imitate reliable voices.  

Example: Callers posing as representatives of the victim’s bank inform them that their account has been the subject of suspicious activity. To “verify” the victim’s identity, they request their online banking credentials, PIN, or account number.  

Clone phishing  

Attackers make nearly identical clones of real emails after intercepting them. They resend the emails with malicious attachments or URLs in place of the original ones. This tactic deceives recipients by taking advantage of the trust that comes with well-known institutions, which can result in malware infections or data breaches.  

Example: An authentic invoice email from a vendor is intercepted by a cybercriminal, who then perfectly copies it and replaces the genuine attachment with malicious software. The copied email is then sent again, possibly with the title “Updated Invoice,” and the recipient opens the malicious attachment, infecting their computer. 

Modern trends in phishing   

Since technology has evolved continuously, phishing attacks have also become more sophisticated than ever. When AI entered the picture, phishing attacks became even more difficult to detect. Here are some examples of modern trends in phishing:   

AI-generated phishing attacks  

AI empowers attackers to generate highly personalized phishing attacks. They use AI to create realistic content, clone voices, manipulate images, and automate attacks. Attackers bypass traditional defenses and adapt attacks in real-time, increasing their effectiveness and posing a significant threat.  

Example: The rise in the use of deepfake technology in business fraud is a stark and concerning example.  

After taking part in a video chat with what seemed to be senior leaders from their organization, a finance worker was reportedly duped into sending $25 million. The executives on the video call were eventually found to be deepfakes. This demonstrates the alarming ability of AI to produce convincing and lifelike footage that scammers can use to deceive users.  

Phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS)  

PhaaS providers offer pre-built phishing kits, lowering the barrier for cybercriminals. Attackers purchase or subscribe to these services, launching sophisticated campaigns without technical skills. PhaaS scales attack provides customization and enable anonymity, increasing the volume and ease of phishing attacks.  

Example: “Bulletproof hosting” services and other infrastructure providers actively facilitate PhaaS operations by enabling cybercriminals to host phishing websites and tools without fear of takedown. These services provide the essential infrastructure that PhaaS services require to function.  

How to recognize a phishing attack  

Now that you know the different types of phishing attacks, let’s learn how to recognize one. Below are some ways you can do to protect yourself from any phishing attack:   

Common signs of a phishing email  

Attackers mimic legitimate sources to launch a phishing attack. But no matter how sophisticated they are, there will always be subtle signs of fraud.   

Here’s how you can recognize them:   

• Generic greetings. Emails that usually start with “Dear Customer” instead of using your complete name may indicate a mass phishing attempt.  
• Urgent or threatening language. Scammers usually try to create panic by saying, “You have 24 hours to act before your account gets suspended. Act now!” This urgency pushes you to make hasty decisions.   
• Suspicious links. Actively hover your mouse over links before clicking. If the displayed URL doesn’t match the actual destination or misspells the domain (e.g., paypall.com instead of paypal.com), attackers are likely attempting a phishing scam.  
• Poor grammar and typos. Phishers usually misspell words, use awkward phrasing, or style their emails inconsistently—actions that legitimate businesses refrain from.  
• Unexpected attachments. Be wary of unexpected attachments. Cybercriminals often use them to spread malware. Trustworthy companies rarely send attachments you’re not expecting.  
• Requests for sensitive information. Be cautious if an email asks for your login credentials, payment details, or security codes. Reputable companies or organizations will never request these from you via email.    

Red flags in SMS and calls  

Phishing scams can also extend beyond emails, targeting individuals through SMS (smishing) and phone calls (vishing). Here are the signs you should watch out for:   

• Unexpected messages with links. Don’t click the link if you receive a text message claiming an urgent issue with a package delivery or bank account. Instead, communicate directly with the company and verify the message.  
• Caller ID spoofing. Scammers can manipulate caller IDs to pretend they’re from a trusted source (e.g., your bank or the IRS). Always verify everything by calling the official number.   
• Robotic or scripted calls. Scammers use automated calls to request personal details, passwords, or payments; you should hang up and directly contact the legitimate company.  
• Pressure to provide personal information. Fraudsters will coerce you into giving them private information right away, frequently threatening to take action if you don’t.  
• Requests for payments in gift cards or crypto. Legitimate businesses avoid requesting payments through unconventional methods such as gift cards or cryptocurrency.  

By staying alert and checking all emails, texts, and calls carefully, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to phishing scams.   

How to protect yourself against phishing attacks

Understanding what phishing is, its different types, and how to spot one will help you avoid potential scammers. However, building your defenses from scammers will prevent you from becoming their victim.   

Here’s how you can protect yourself from scammers:   

Prevention strategies  

• Verify sender email addresses. Look for slight misspellings (e.g., amaz0n.com instead of amazon.com).  
• Never click on suspicious links. Hover over links to inspect where you’ll be redirected.   
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Add an extra layer of security to your accounts. It will be better if you also have different passwords on your different accounts.   
• Use passwordless authentication. Passwordless authentication uses biometrics, security keys, or one-time codes (OTPs) instead of passwords. This simplifies login, strengthens security, and reduces IT costs by removing password-related risks. 
• Keep software updated. Protect your website from malware and vulnerabilities by keeping it up to date and by installing website security.   

Security measures for businesses  

• Employee training programs. If you’re a business owner with employees, you may schedule regular phishing awareness training to boost your company’s security against phishing attacks.  
• Use email security software. Installing/ using email security software helps you reduce or avoid potential phishing attacks. You can download spam filtering, phishing protection, malware detection, or data loss prevention (DLP).  
• Implement software that prevents email spoofing. You can download the following software to eliminate any phishing threats on your business: Sender Policy Framework (SPF), DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM), Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance).  

What to do if you fall victim to a phishing attack 

If you suspect that you’ve fallen victim to a phishing attack, you can act quickly to minimize the damage and prevent further compromise. Here’s what you’ll need to do:  

Immediately change compromised passwords  

Change the passwords for any impacted accounts immediately if you input your login information on a phishing website. For every service, create a strong, one-of-a-kind password, and if at all possible, turn on 2FA.  

Report the phishing attempt  

Notify the official organization being impersonated, your email provider, and the IT department (if relevant). You can report phishing attempts using specific email addresses provided by many businesses, such as [email protected].  

Monitor financial accounts for unauthorized transactions  

Look for any unusual activity on your credit card transactions and bank statements. Get in touch with your bank or card provider right once to dispute any illegal charges you see and, if required, freeze your account.  

Scan device for malware  

Malicious attachments or links that install malware are frequently included in phishing emails. To check for risks on your computer or mobile device, use a reliable antivirus or anti-malware application. You can also add website security such as SSL certificate to secure online transaction and SiteLock cybersecurity to automatically scan your website for malware and other vulnerabilities.  

Notify credit bureaus if your personal information was stolen  

To stop identity theft, think about setting up a fraud alert or credit freeze with the main credit bureaus if your Social Security number or other private information is compromised.  

Educate yourself and others  

To spread awareness and stop such attacks, talk about your experience with friends, family, or coworkers. You and others will be better protected in the future if you are aware of typical phishing techniques.  

Stay vigilant against phishing attacks    

Cybercriminals continuously improve their phishing tactics every single day, with the use of technological advancement available. By staying alert, informed, and cautious can make all the difference.   

As a business owner, you need to be proactive–verify emails, double-check links, and enable 2FA to add an extra layer of security. Consistently educate yourself and others about the latest phishing schemes so you can protect yourself and your business from potential harm.   

Take control of your online security today! Elevate your website’s security with Domain.com and explore ways to protect your website through our strong security tools.  

What is phishing FAQ: