Your boss just emailed you… or did they? the threat of spear phishing

You get an email that looks completely legitimate. The sender is your boss, a coworker, or maybe even someone from your IT department. The message is well-written and refers to a project you’re working on, asking you to quickly click a link to review a document or log in to a new platform. Your gut instinct is to just do it—after all, it’s a trusted source. But if you click that link, you could be opening the door to a full-blown cyberattack.

This is not a regular “phishing” scam; it’s spear phishing. While regular phishing scams are like casting a wide net, hoping to catch a few random fish with a generic email, spear phishing is a targeted attack. The scammer does their homework, gathering details about you, your job, and your organization to make the email seem incredibly authentic and personal. They are aiming for a specific “fish”—you.

How Spear Phishing Works

A spear phishing email is a masterclass in deception. The criminal behind it has often scoured your social media profiles, your company’s website, and other public records to collect just enough information to make their message believable.

• The Deceptive Disguise: They might use an email address that looks almost identical to your boss’s or a vendor’s, maybe with a typo or a different domain (e.g., janedoe-company.com instead of [email protected]).
• The Personalized Request: The email will reference things you know and care about, like a new company policy, a recent project, or a known vendor issue. This personal touch makes you feel more comfortable and less likely to question the request.
• The Malicious Goal: The email will always have a malicious purpose. It might ask you to:
  • Click a link to a fake login page that looks like your company’s network, where they will steal your credentials.
  • Open a document that contains malware designed to infect your computer and steal data.
  • Wire money to a fake account, a common tactic in “business email compromise” scams.

Your Best Defense: Be Suspicious!

Spear phishing is so effective because it plays on your trust and your professional instincts. But there are ways to protect yourself.

1. Stop and Think: The number one rule is to always be suspicious of any email that asks you to do something unusual, even if it appears to be from a trusted source. Take a moment to pause and scrutinize the message.
2. Check the Sender’s Email Address: This is your most powerful tool. Don’t just look at the display name. Click on the name to reveal the full email address. Look for any misspellings, extra words, or an unfamiliar domain.
3. The Golden Rule: Call to Verify! If an email seems off, especially if it’s asking you to perform a task you’ve never done before, pick up the phone and call the sender directly. Use a number you already have on file, not the one in the email. A quick phone call can confirm whether the email is real or a scam.
4. Look for Errors: Spear phishers are clever, but they can still make mistakes. Be on the lookout for grammatical errors, strange phrasing, or an unusual tone that doesn’t sound like the person who supposedly sent it.

Remember, a little bit of caution goes a long way. When in doubt, it’s always better to take a few extra minutes to verify than to fall victim to a spear phishing attack.