Phishing: what it is and how to recognize scam e-mail

phishing represents one of the most frequent cyber threats in today’s digital landscape. It consists of a series of deceptive techniques used by criminals to obtain sensitive information or money by exploiting users’ trust through seemingly legitimate communications.

What is Phishing

Phishing is a social engineering technique aimed at tricking people into revealing personal information, such as login credentials, credit card numbers, or bank details. Phishing attacks are generally carried out through emails, text messages or fake websites that mimic legitimate ones. The goal is to gain unauthorized access to financial resources or personal data, which can then be used to commit fraud or identity theft.

Common modes of attack

Phishing attack modes are varied, some of the most common techniques include:

• Email phishing: imitating official communications from companies, banks or government agencies, asking the user to click on a link or provide personal information.
• Spear phishing: an advanced form of phishing that exploits social engineering techniques with the goal of attacking specific users, such as organizations or individuals, by sending e-mails. Unlike conventional phishing, it involves detailed collection of the recipient’s personal data to construct highly personalized and convincing messages.
• Clone phishing: involves creating a copy of a legitimate e-mail that has already been received, but with links or attachments modified to lead the user to malicious sites.

How to Recognize a Phishing Email

Recognizing a phishing email can be tricky, but there are some signs to look out for:

• Sender address: Often has small variations from an authentic address, such as adding a number or a letter.
• Tone and language: They tend to use an urgent tone, trying to scare the user into taking immediate action.
• Suspicious links: Hyperlinks may appear legitimate, but actually lead to malicious websites. It is important to check the URL before clicking.
• Grammatical or formatting errors: Although not always present, typos or translation errors can be clues to a scam.

Comparison of a real and a fake Italgas email.

Authentic emails from companies like Italgas are usually well formatted, with professional language and free of spelling errors. They include verifiable contact information and do not ask for sensitive information.

Warning signs in a fake e-mail

In a fake Italgas e-mail, you are likely to find suspicious elements such as links that do not match the company’s official URL, an alarmist tone, requests for personal information, or the use of a low-quality logo.

Best Practices to Prevent Phishing

Phishing is one of the most widespread and dangerous cyber threats. Adopting security best practices is essential to protect personal and business information from fraudulent attacks that aim to steal sensitive data.

Verify the authenticity of communications.

Before responding to any suspicious e-mail, it is critical to verify the authenticity of the sender. This can be done by checking the e-mail address, visiting the company’s official website or contacting the entity directly through official channels.

Using protection tools

Tools such as anti-phishing filters, up-to-date anti-virus software, and two-factor authentication can reduce the risk of falling victim to phishing.

User education and awareness

One of the most important aspects in phishing prevention is user education. Knowing phishing techniques and knowing how to recognize scams can make a difference.

The Importance of Continued Vigilance

Phishing is a constantly evolving phenomenon. Maintaining constant vigilance, keeping abreast of new forms of attack and adopting security best practices is essential to protect your personal and business information. Prevention, combined with a proactive attitude, is the best defense against phishing.