The Psychology Behind Phishing Attacks: How They Manipulate and How to Protect Yourself

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An image of phishing


Urgent: Immediate Action Required to Avoid Account Suspension

Dear Customer,

We regret to inform you that your [Bank Name] account has been temporarily suspended due to suspicious activities. To protect your account and avoid permanent suspension, immediate verification is required.

What you need to do:

  • Click the link below to access the secure verification page:[Fake Link: www.banknameverification.com]
  • Log in using your account credentials.
  • Follow the instructions to verify your identity and secure your account.

Please note that if you do not complete the verification process within 24 hours, your account will be permanently suspended. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact our customer support team at [fake phone number].

Thank you for banking with [bank name].

Sincerely,

[Fake Signature]

[Bank Name] Security Team

Have you ever gotten an email like this one? When you come across an email like this, how would you respond? Most people probably rush things and follow the instructions in the email. But is that the appropriate course of action in this circumstance?

Be Careful! That may be a phishing attack that will steal all your money and even cost you your life.

However, do not worry. You can always outsmart the attackers and identify scams and legitimate emails. This article will go into great detail about phishing attacks, the psychology that underlies them, and how to protect yourself from them without being mere victims of intruders.


Table of Contents

With this evolving technology, everyone is using emails, social media, and other online interactions daily. They have become an essential part of our lives, which we cannot get rid of. However, evolving technology not only paves the path to the wellness of society, but there is also always a dark side associated with it. Phishing is one of those dark sides that plays a significant role in exploiting the digital privacy of individuals. These attacks not only exploit technological vulnerabilities to play with individuals but also manipulate human psychology. Therefore, getting a good understanding of the psychological tactics behind phishing can help us to protect ourselves from falling into the attacker’s hands.

 

What is Phishing?

An image of fishing hook
Image by Lauri Oolma from Pixabay

Phishing is a type of cyber-attack where attackers impersonate legitimate entities to steal sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details. These attacks can take many forms, including email phishing, spear phishing, whaling, and smishing (SMS phishing). According to a report by the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG), phishing attacks have increased dramatically, causing significant financial losses, and compromising personal data worldwide.

 

The Psychological Tactics Used in Phishing.

Let’s take a look at the email that is presented at the beginning of the article. Could you notice how the attacker tries to play with human psychology? If you took a closer look at the email, there are many tactics used. Let’s uncover some of them one by one.

 

1.     Social Engineering

Social Engineering is a technique used to manipulate human minds to reveal their confidential information. Attackers carefully observe how people think and act in specific situations to create an attack that manipulates the users to do a specific task rather than forcing them to do that.

In our email example, the attacker has created a situation in which our bank account is under suspension and manipulated us to do a specific task to prevent the complete suspension of the account.

2.     Fear and Urgency

An image showing fear
Image by Enrique from Pixabay

Another effective tactic is creating an urgent environment that manipulates users to take immediate action. In our example email, you may see that the attacker is saying that we need to take immediate verification within 24 hours to prevent permanent account suspension. So, users are rushed, and they are limited from thinking further and wasting time. And, of course, the attacker is playing with the fear of users on suspending their bank account removing their access to all bank credentials and money.

3.     Authority and Trust

Attackers also take an image of an authority figure to gain the trust of the users. They represent them as a CEO, a government official, a trusted brand, or a trustworthy organization to make the users think that the scam is trustworthy. In the example email the attacker is appearing as the security team of a popular bank where the user has an account.

4.     Reciprocity and commitment

The principle of reciprocity involves creating a sense of obligation. An email offering a gift or an exclusive deal in exchange for filling out a survey can entice recipients to share personal information. Commitment tactics might involve an initial small request that leads to larger demands, making it harder for the victim to back out.

5.     Scarcity and excitement

Scarcity tactics create a sense of urgency by highlighting limited time offers or exclusive deals. Excitement or curiosity of users is manipulated through adding and special surprise or gift. For example, a phishing email might claim that a special discount is available only for the next 24 hours, prompting quick, unconsidered actions.

 

Profiles of Phishing Targets

Phishers can target a specific audience to establish their attack. Here are the different target profiles of most phishing attacks.

1.     General Population (Spam Phishing)

These phishing attacks target a massive population to make unsuspecting individuals a prey on their cunning scam. For this, the attackers mostly use some everyday online interactions everyone is using in their day-to-day life such as Netflix, PayPal, Email, or some online shopping services.

2.     Specific individuals (Spear Phishing)

Spear phishing targets specific individuals using personal information gathered from various sources. For example, an email to a business executive that references a recent conference they attended can appear highly credible, increasing the likelihood of the victim clicking on malicious links.

3.     Organizations (Whaling)

Whaling attacks target high-level executives, upper management, some high-value organizations, or celebrities with carefully tailored attacks. An email that appears to be from the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) asking the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) to initiate a wire transfer can be highly effective due to the authoritative tone and specific context.

 

Methods of Delivering the Phishing Attacks (Types of Phishing Attacks)

Phishing Attacker
Image by freepik

Attacker uses many delivery methods to spread their attack. Below are some of the most common delivery methods for phishing attacks:

1.     Voice Phishing (Vishing)

These attacks are often delivered via phone calls or even in person posing as legitimate representatives of organizations such as banks, tech support, or government agencies. For example, a call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft tech support, stating that your computer has a virus and requesting remote access or credentials to fix the issue.

2.     Email Phishing

This is the most popular mode of delivery. They come as emails in your email inbox to make you a target. For example, an email that appears to be from PayPal asking the recipient to verify their account details by clicking on a link, which leads to a fraudulent website.

3.     SMS Phishing (Smishing)

These attacks come as a text message from a trusted entity such as banks or service providers in your phone and even as some mobile app notification. For example, a text message claiming to be from a bank, informs the recipient of suspicious activity on their account and provides a link to verify their information.

4.     Social media phishing

Here, the attacker uses social media platforms to deliver their attack. They appear as fake profiles or fake organizations to exploit the users with direct messages or fake links. For example, a direct message on Facebook from a compromised friend’s account containing a link to a fake login page designed to steal the recipient’s credentials.

5.     Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks

Phishing Attacker
Image by storyset on Freepik

In MitM attacks, the attacker intercepts communication between the victim and a legitimate service, often through compromised Wi-Fi networks. The attacker can then alter the communication to steal information or deliver malicious content.

For example, an attacker intercepts a user’s login session to an online banking site and redirects the user to a fake site to capture their credentials.

6.     Search Engine Phishing

Attackers create fraudulent websites that appear in search engine results. These sites are designed to look legitimate and often use popular keywords to rank higher in search results or appear as sponsored ads, tricking users into visiting them.

For example, a fake website offering free movie downloads appears in search results, prompting users to enter personal information or download malware.

7.     Clone Phishing

Clone phishing involves duplicating a legitimate email that the victim has previously received but modifying it with malicious links or attachments. The attacker sends the cloned email from a spoofed address, making it appear as a legitimate follow-up.

For example, an email that looks identical to a legitimate shipping confirmation email but includes a malicious link disguised as a tracking number.

8.     URL Phishing

This takes the form of a malicious link that may come through any media such as email or text messages. When the users click on the URL they are directed to the attacker's website where the victim’s credentials are stolen.

These are some common mods in which phishing attempts occur. But keep in mind that these are not the only methods.

 

How to protect ourselves from phishing attacks

Now we know how phishing attacks are staged on how they come into victims' hands. Let’s take a look at how to protect ourselves from such phishing attempts without being a mere victim of such attacks.

1.     Education and Awareness

Learning about cyber-attacks and their nature is the key strategy to protect ourselves. Use various legitimate resources to enhance the knowledge, stay up to date, and be aware of cyber security.

2.     Recognize Red Flags

Red Flag
Image by jemastock on Freepik

Now you know how the attackers deliver their attacks and how they manipulate human psychology. So, use your intuition to identify potential signs of phishing attempts including poor grammar, suspicious URLs, unsolicited requests for sensitive information, and emails that create a sense of urgency, fear, or excitement.

3.     Verification Practices

Always verify the sender’s identity before taking any immediate action. If you receive an unexpected email, text message, or voice call from your bank, colleague, or organization, verify the sender’s details such as email address or phone number, and contact them through a known, legitimate channel to confirm its authenticity.

4.     Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an additional layer of security to your accounts. They often have features like receiving OTP to your phone or using authenticator apps in addition to entering passwords to your accounts. So, even if the attacker somehow stole your credentials, they will not be able to access your private information or accounts.

5.     Use Strong, Unique Passwords

Use strong passwords
Image by storyset on Freepik

Don’t use the same password in multiple accounts. That prevents the breach of one account from compromising others. Use the combination of letters, numbers, and special symbols to create your passwords, and don’t make them too small and easily guessable.

6.     Update Software Regularly

Keep your operating system, browser, and other software up to date with the latest security patches and updates to protect against vulnerabilities that could be exploited by phishing attacks.

7.     Backup Your Data

Regularly back up your important data to an external drive or secure cloud storage. If you become a victim of a phishing attack and lose your data, you can safely recover your data without paying any ransom or suffering from significant loss.

8.     Examine Emails Closely

Be cautious of suspicious attachments or links, especially if they are in unfamiliar formats or come from unknown senders. They could contain malware.

Legitimate organizations often use personalized greetings and provide contact information. Generic greetings and lack of contact information are red flags of phishing attempts.

9.     Report Suspicious Activity

Examine closely for suspicious activity
Image by storyset on Freepik

If you receive a phishing email, report it to the relevant authorities or organizations. Many companies have dedicated phishing report channels.

Alert friends, family, or colleagues about the phishing attempt to prevent them from falling victim as well.

10.             Secure Your Devices and Network

Use firewalls and reputable antivirus software to protect your devices from malicious software.

Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions. Use a virtual private network (VPN) to secure your internet connection.

 

Phishing attacks are a major danger in our digital world, using clever tricks to fool you instead of hacking your devices. Knowing how these scammers operate and taking strong precautions can help keep you and your organization safe. The best way to stop phishing attacks is to stay aware, be alert, and take proactive steps to protect yourself. Keep up to date, be cautious, and shield your digital life from the crafty tactics of phishing criminals. Stay sharp and secure!


Please feel free to share your comments, suggestions, feedback, and any problems you may have regarding this article in the comment section below. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!


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