In our last post, we explained how financial institutions can recover quickly after a cyber-attack is detected. This time, we’re going to take a closer look at how to identify mysterious emails that are responsible for phishing and breaching networks to prevent them from happening in the first place. As we explore this strategy, protect your operation with a Cyber Liability Insurance program.
Check the display name.
Always look at who is sending you emails. Even if it seems like an email sent from a legitimate source, such as a bank or colleague, be sure to check the domain. If the email address is something like “johnsmith@secure.com”, this is likely fraudulent. Even if you know the company from which John is emailing you, they do not own the domain name “secure.com”. Don’t open it.
Be click-cautious.
Hover your mouse over any links embedded in the body of the email. If the link address looks weird, don’t click on it. If you want to test the link, open a new window and type in website address directly rather than clicking on the link from unsolicited emails, explains Return Path.
Look for grammatical errors.
Spelling and grammar errors are very rare in professional emails. Not only does this look bad on behalf of the sender, it hurts the company’s reputation. If the email is riddled with mistakes, it’s likely a phishing email.
Never give confidential information via email.
Legitimate companies will never ask for confidential data or information via email. If you get an email asking for this, don’t engage.
Beware of urgency.
Invoking a sense of urgency or fear is a common phishing tactic. Beware of subject lines that claim your “account has been suspended” or your account had an “unauthorized login attempt”.
Never click on attachments.
Don’t click on attachments that are included in these emails. These are what typically contain the malware, so if you weren’t expecting an email with attachments, steer clear.
About FGIB
Since 1983, Financial Guaranty Insurance Brokers has distinguished itself as a provider of Professional Liability, Cyber Liability, and Crime insurance products for financial entities. A BPL policy offers banks, their executives and employees coverage for alleged errors or omissions in professional services rendered to customers. Financial Guaranty Insurance Brokers (FGIB) can provide you with this policy and customize the coverages you require to address your operations and the services you offer. For more information about our products, we invite you to contact our experts today at (626) 793-3330.