Five Examples of a Phishing Attack

A phishing attack occurs when a hacker tricks a person into revealing sensitive information — either about themselves or their employer — or infecting a network with malware. It’s one of the most common cyberattacks — 75% of businesses experienced a phishing attack in 2020, Proofpoint reported, during which 74% of attacks aimed at American businesses were successful.
Strong cybersecurity has proven effective in warding off phishing attacks. But perhaps the most effective form of phishing prevention is through education and training, especially since Verizon found that 96% of social engineering attacks arrive through email.
Before you and your staff learn how to avoid phishing attacks, you need to be able to spot them first. Here are five phishing examples hackers usually use to obtain your personal information or deploy their malware:
1. Spear phishing
While most attacks cast a wide net, spear phishing occurs when cybercriminals zero in on specific members of an organization by making the victim feel as if they know the sender. Another version of this, called whaling, happens when attackers go after high-level members of a company such as the president or CEO.
2. CEO fraud
This happens when an attacker disguises themselves as a company’s CEO, or a director of human resources and IT, and asks the victim for personal information or to install a new app on their device. The unsuspecting victim then hands over everything — passwords, banking information, etc.
3. Fake websites
In this attack, the victims are sent links to fraudulent sites that look real — such as the homepage of their email provider — and are coaxed into entering their credentials or other personal information.
4. Vishing
Rather than using a computer, a hacker uses a voice call — hence the spelling — and disguise themselves to get the victim’s personal information. Some examples include posing as a bank employee or someone from a company such as Microsoft and telling the victim they’ve found a virus on their computer.
5. Malvertising
Through tools such as online ads or pop-ups, cybercriminals get their victims to click on a link and inadvertently infect their computer with malware.
Hackers are growing more audacious by the day — these are just some of many ways they use phishing to gain personal information, break into a network or deploy a virus. However, through thorough cybersecurity training and strong cybersecurity, you can reduce the risk of being victimized by a phishing attack. And if you have any concerns about your cybersecurity and its vulnerabilities, reach out Computer Doc today.
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How Outsourcing IT Services Can Enhance Business Continuity in Charlotte

Running your own business in Charlotte is challenging enough. Each day seems to present a new set of obstacles for you and your staff to overcome. Sometimes, the problems stem from your IT infrastructure, putting a halt to your business continuity and possibly resulting in costly downtime and irreparable damage to your reputation. Computer Doc knows the challenges you face.
You need to grow your business, not worrying about whether your cybersecurity can stave off a breach. You also don’t need to be concerned with whether your data backup and recovery plan will keep your most important data secure in the event of a disaster.
When it's a weather disaster like a hurricane and flooding, your business stands to suffer power outages and downtime — and brand damage. When you’re hit with a cyberattack and a potential irrevocable loss of data, it could mean devastation. Six in 10 small businesses end up having to close their doors within six months of a cyberattack.
Unfortunately, you may not have the in-house manpower or resources to devote to the maintenance and monitoring of your IT network to maintain continuity, which could negatively impact how smooth your business can run and recover. That’s your cue — it’s a perfect opportunity to seek worry-free IT services.
By outsourcing your IT to an MSP, you’ll have access to a suite of IT services for an affordable rate. Your MSP can deliver 24/7 support from a team of technical experts who are versed in the unique needs of your business. The right MSP won’t just fix something that’s broken — rather, they’ll proactively monitor your IT to snuff out a problem before it starts.
There are many reasons why partnering with an MSP can do wonders for your business continuity. Here are some:
Strong, compliant cybersecurity
Forget about data breaches and cyberattacks bringing your operations to a halt. An MSP will stay on top of all your updates and provide you with the most innovative security, protecting you from the savviest of cybercriminals.
Data backup and recovery
Preventing a disaster can sometimes prove impossible, but recovering from it doesn’t have to be. An MSP will work with you on a backup and recovery plan to ensure your business continuity in the event of a breach, power outage or natural disaster. They’ll also work with you on which data is most valuable to your business and the best ways to protect it.
Cloud services
Your MSP will offer you a host of scalable, customizable solutions that will help your business streamline operations and your employees securely work remotely from anywhere. You’ll also have access to more storage and secure email hosting.
IT consulting
Instead of just supplying you with IT support, an MSP will also work alongside you on an array of projects, including helping you rebuild and overhaul your entire infrastructure.
24/7 support
A good MSP will provide you with technical support all day, every day, including holidays and weekends, to ensure you can continue operations even in the direst of circumstances.
Partnering with the right MSP is a huge boon to your business continuity. Reach out today to learn about our IT services and how we can set you up for long-term success with a business continuity plan. For more information, consult the experts at Computer Doc in Charlotte. https://computerdocnc.com/how-outsourcing-it-services-can-enhance-business-continuity-in-charlotte/