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WHAT IS PHISHING ?

Phishing

WHAT IS PHISHING ? WHAT IS PHISHING ATTACK ?

  Many people wonder what is phishing, against which so many warnings come in the media. Phishing  attack  is the attempt to obtain sensitive information  like   usernames , passwords , credit card details , bank account details ,  date of birth etc   with malicious intent to defraud the victim  by disguising as a reputed  trustworthy entity through electronic communication . 
  
Phishing , in simple words is  an attempt  to get your  usernames , passwords etc  by unknown  persons / criminals  with intention to  steal your money from your bank accounts and credit cards  . Just  like offering bites to fishes to catch them  , senders of  fraudulent e-mails   make you part your data   with attractive offers   using duplicate , but looking similar to ,  original websites .  Instead of e-mails , victims may also be approached through   SMS , WhatsApp messages or Facebook postings .  

Latest Phishing Attacks in India

CERT-IN REPORTS A   NEW  PHISHING ATTACK ON BANKING CUSTOMERS 

Dated 12.08.2021 :  Indian Computer Emergency  Response Team  - ( Cert In  )  has warned about a new phishing attack aimed  about Indian Banking Customers using ngrok platform  . The platform is   being used  for creating   phishing  websites   .  The phishing websites  are impersonating banking websites of  India   and collecting sensitive information of the customers like internet banking   usernames , passwords . mobile numbers and OTPs .   

The  modus operandi of the attack  is  normally as follows  : 

1 . Customers will receive SMS with embedded    phishing links ending with  ngrok . io/xxxbank   . 
2. SMS will have messages like "  Your account is being  suspended . Please Re KYC verification update . Click here link http:// xxxxx. ngrok.io/xxxbank  . 
3. Once you click the link , it will take you to their phishing website  . 
4. Then he generates a  OTP  sent to your mobile number  . 
5.   Once  you enter that OTP in phishing site  , attacker will    do the transactions on the original  website and funds are siphoned off   . 

​Hence  be careful   before responding to such SMS messages .  For further details    , you click here 

TYPES OF PHISHING 

 There are various techniques used by    criminals to lure you to part     with   sensitive data  . Some of them are : 

1. SPEAR PHISHING :   The attackers  first  gather  information about  their potential victim by  using   social media  or  other methods   and then   send the baits   using  emails / mobiles / SMS etc  .   The  criminals use  the method  often as    chances of  victims believing   them  and parting the required data  is high  in this technique .   

2. CLONE PHISHING :   Attackers send a  very similar e-mail  already received by you from a genuine  / bonafide  entity , but with an attachment  of malicious content  , appearing to be coming from genuine site .   

3. LINK MANIPULATION :  Misspelled URLs   are sent to make  the websites  look real  by  altering an alphabet / number of the original  website .  Manipulated URL will take the  victim to  a  malicious website  

4. SMS PHISHING :  Instead of e-mails , attackers send SMS messages  which take he victim to  a malicious website .   

5 TELE CALLING  :   Attackers pose as the tele-callers of a   reputed  bank  or the bank where you have  account  / credit / debit card  and obtain  information  from you by luring special offers . 

  INDIA  IS IN TOP 3 COUNTRIES TARGETED  FOR PHISHING :  REPORT ​

Dated  30.05.2018  :     According to  RSA Quarterly  Fraud Report  Q1-2018  ,  India is  one of the top 3  target  countries  for phishing and malware attacks noticed in the first quarter of 2018 .   The two others countries having more attacks are U.S.A and Canada .  
Report   also points out that   more and more rogue Mobile App  originated   over the period and  now they account for 39 %  of the total frauds  , followed by mobile browsers  with 26 % of share of frauds . 

SOME    PHISHING EXAMPLES 

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HOW TO PREVENT PHISHING ?

 FEW TIPS FOR  SAFEGUARDING AGAINST PHISHING : 

  1. Keep informed about  phishing techniques . Fraudsters constantly change their modus operandi .  Get  updated  . 

2. Think before  clicking  on links provided  in an  e-mail  received . 

3. Be wary of providing sensitive personal information on-line  . Check whether  website  has https://   link  on toolbar . Make double sure that  the website is  genuine .   You can get  URL  from google search  directly . 

4.  Use anti virus software  , anti -spyware  , malware protection applications  and firewalls to protect  your computers from malicious attacks . 

5. Be wary of pop ups . 

6. Never store your username , password , i-pin  on your computer . 

6.  In case of doubt  , directly contact service providers / banks and check whether they have sent such e-mails .   

7.  Check your bank accounts regularly  for any unauthorized transaction .  Report to the bank immediately on finding out any such transaction . 

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