Phishing attacks are very present in our day to day. As we know it is one of the techniques most used by hackers. This means that our data and personal information may be in danger. They are attacks that can come through email, SMS or even by message on social networks.
Now users can make mistakes that make it easier for cyber criminals. In this article we are going to talk about it. We are going to explain what trace we leave on the net and what can be used for Phishing.
Phishing attacks, a very frequent threat
There is no doubt that privacy and security are very important factors for everyone. However, the types of attacks and threats that are present on the network are very wide. One of these threats that has grown the most recently is Phishing attacks. Cyber criminals are looking for ways to steal passwords and credentials from users.
It is true that over time the security tools have improved. We now have software at our disposal that can protect us more effectively. However also keep in mind that hackers constantly hone their techniques. They manage to break these security measures and put us at risk.
This makes Phishing attacks remain a major problem. Sometimes even the users themselves make mistakes that cause them to use information to make these attacks even more dangerous.
Trace we leave and facilitate Phishing
Specifically, we refer to the trace that we can unconsciously leave on the network and that can facilitate Phishing. This logically puts us in a vulnerable position and cyber criminals can use it to achieve their goals.
Leaving traces on the net can favor what is known as Spear Phishing. Basically they are personalized Phishing attacks. In this way they have a greater probability of success and can put our privacy at risk.
Personal data on social networks or forums
Without a doubt, personal data is the first information that hackers can use to carry out their attacks. They can steal our name, email address, phone number, information about our work …
All this information can be used to carry out more personal Phishing attacks . In this way they could have a greater probability of success. For example, we are talking about receiving a malicious email that indicates a problem with our account or service and that email is addressed to us. We are more likely to end up clicking on possible malicious links if it is directed to our name than if it is a generic email.
This data can be made public unconsciously simply on social networks or public Internet forums. An example is when we are going to put a comment on a news item and show our email address and name. They can be collected by bots and later used to carry out Phishing attacks.
Publications on what we use
Posts , whether on social media or other platforms, can be a problem for our privacy. There we can display information about whether we use a certain application or service.
Let’s say for example that we have a problem with our bank and we spoke to them on Twitter saying that the mobile application is giving problems. Cyber criminals may collect this information and use it against us. They could know that we have an account at a certain bank and then send us an email that is actually a Phishing attack to steal our data from that bank.
Information on future actions
We may also filter data related to our future actions . For example, if we speak publicly that we are going to buy a certain product, that we have placed an order and we are waiting for it, that we are going to take a trip to a specific place, etc.
Ultimately we are giving information about something future that could be used by hackers to deploy their attacks. They can send us an e-mail to steal information related to that data that we have leaked.
Operator change
On many occasions, users make public the change of Internet or mobile operator , as well as any other company that provides us with some type of service. Also a way to ask for information, advice or simply to tell us how other users have done with that company.
However that could also be used by cyber criminals to send targeted Phishing attacks.
