From employee benefits and customer service to accounting and the competition, it takes a lot to make a business run successfully. Sadly, however, it can take next to nothing to take a business down.
According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, 60 percent of small and midsized organizations that fall victim to a hacker go out of business within six months. On top of that, hacking attempts are made every 39 seconds―a near constant rate. So, what steps should employees be aware of taking in the event that they mistakenly fall for a phishing scam? Here is a short list:
Steps to Take Immediately After Falling for a Phishing Scam
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Quickly disconnect from the internet by unplugging the internet cable or disconnecting from your router/WiFi. This will help reduce the chances that the hacker can access your company’s network.
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Alert your company’s IT team, if you have one.
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Backup important files to the cloud or an external drive in the event that the phishing attack leads to the destruction of your data. This includes sensitive company information and personal files you don’t want to lose.
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Scan your system for malware using anti-virus software. Many malicious emails include dangerous malware in the form of computer viruses, worms, Trojan virus, ransomware, spyware, adware, and scareware.
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Change your password to prevent the hacker from gaining access to your personal information. Keep in mind that if you use multiple passwords, they should not be the same.
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Report the phishing attack to the authorities by filing a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. It’s also a great place to stay current on the latest phishing threats.
Making employees aware of these steps gives them some power over would-be hackers and phishing attempts, but it’s not enough. As a business owner or leader, it’s your responsibility to keep the company safe from cybercrimes by helping ensure employees are never in the position to fall for a phishing scam. By selecting an email security service provider like INKY, you’re taking the power away from cybercriminals, and the decision-making away from employees.
In the fight against phishing, its best to take the onus off individuals and put it into the hands of INKY. Whether you are using Office 365, G-Suite, Microsoft Exchange or another email solution, INKY is the industry’s best solution for the security of your email…and ultimately, your company. INKY is uniquely effective at catching phishing attacks. Using computer vision, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning, INKY searches for signs of fraud other phishing attack software misses and can detect imposters down to the pixel level. It works on any device and places highly visible warning banners directly in the email.
Consider your company’s current cybersecurity status, and then consider INKY.
This blog was updated in January 2022.
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INKY® is the emerging hero in the war against phishing. An award-winning cloud-based email security solution, INKY® prevents the most complex phishing threats from disrupting or even immobilizing your company’s day-to-day business operations. Using computer vision, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, INKY® is the smartest investment you can make in the security of your organization. INKY® is a proud winner of the NYCx Cybersecurity Moonshot Challenge and finalist in the 2020 RSAC Innovation Sandbox Competition. Learn more about INKY® or request an online demonstration today.