Employee email security during peak phishing season

Having anti-virus software DOES NOT give you a free pass against phishing threats.  They do not prevent your users from falling for sophisticated social engineering attacks. No amount of legacy anti-virus software can stop an employee from entering their Office 365 credentials into a devious phishing site.  Or keep an executive from approving a multi-million dollar fraudulent transaction.  Phishing has evolved way beyond just malware delivery. Increasingly, it's a complex, multi-vector con job targeting your most important asset - your people.  Phishers don't always need an infected device to succeed; just uninformed recipients. Here are 4 steps you can take to mitigate risks:   1. 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬: Regular training sessions with mock phishing scenarios can help employees recognize and avoid phishing attempts. This is crucial as phishing attacks often rely on tricking users into giving away their information. 2. 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐎𝐛𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: This is a technique where the information presented to potential attackers is constantly changing, making it difficult for them to gain a foothold. It can be particularly effective in protecting against phishing attacks that rely on gathering information about the system or the users. 3. 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐌𝐅𝐀): While MFA is a common recommendation, using a phishing-resistant MFA adds an extra layer of security. This could involve using hardware tokens or biometric data, which are much harder for a phishing attack to replicate. 4. 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐋𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Invest in a comprehensive, multi-layered, anti-phishing security solution that covers all aspects of your business. That means adding a specialist cloud email security solution like MailGuard, to your email security stack.   Modern phishing protection must blend cutting-edge technology with comprehensive security awareness.  Believing otherwise is the real virus that can leave you vulnerable.

Scammers see tax season as open hunting season Don't be their easy prey 7 things nobody tells you about staying safe from phishing during tax season: 1. Be Skeptical of Unexpected Emails → Even if it looks like it’s from your CPA, trust your gut. → Unexpected emails? Delete them immediately. 2. Generic Senders Are Risky → Addresses like donotreply@domain.com are a scammer’s favorite disguise. → Always verify directly with your provider’s online portal. 3. Never Click Unverified Links → Don’t shortcut security by clicking links in emails. → Log in directly via your browser to avoid phishing traps. 4. Upgrade Your Email Security → Free email services lack robust phishing protection. → Consider upgrading to paid plans with built-in security features. 5. Don’t Ignore Email Settings → Even premium platforms like Google Workspace need periodic reviews. → Verify your settings to ensure optimal protection. 6. Scammers Target E-Signature Platforms → The rise of e-signatures has made them prime phishing targets. → Authenticate every document before signing or opening. 7. Think Before You Open Emails → Got an unexpected tax document? Call your provider directly. → No shortcuts, no stress, no scams. PS) Scammers are clever, but they’re also lazy. Make them work harder than it’s worth.

It’s not paranoia if they really are out to get you. And guess what? They are. While you’re busy worrying about VPNs and password policies, scammers are sliding into your employees’ DMs with sweet nothings, fake job offers, and “just one click” crypto deals. Welcome to the trifecta of human-targeted scams: - Romance - Recruitment - Financial fraud They don’t need root access if they’ve already got your heart, your résumé, or your retirement account. Are you protecting your people? Not just their inboxes. Them. Here’s what you’re up against: ❗Deepfake-enabled fraud: $200M lost—in just one quarter of 2025 ❗AI-generated crypto scams: $4.6B stolen in 2024—up 24% ❗Over 50% of leaders admit: no employee training on deepfakes ❗61% of execs: zero protocols for addressing AI-generated threats Companies spend millions locking down endpoints—then leave their employees to get catfished by a deepfake on Tinder. But here’s the good news: you’re not powerless. You just have to stop pretending a phishing test is a strategy (please). Here’s how to actually reduce risk: ✔️Make your training real. Include romance bait, fake recruiters, and deepfake voicemails. If your simulations don’t mirror reality, it’s not training—it’s theater. ✔️Train managers to notice when something’s off. Isolation. Sudden secrecy. Financial stress. These aren’t just HR problems—they’re prime conditions for social engineering. ✔️Build a culture where it’s safe to ask, “Is this sketchy?” If your people feel dumb for asking, they’ll stop asking—and that’s how scams slip through. ✔️Partner with HR. Online exploitation, financial manipulation, digital coercion—these are wellness issues and security issues. Treat them that way. ✔️Empower families, not just employees. Scams often hit home first. Make your materials so good they want to send them to their group chat. Bonus: they’ll bring those healthy habits right back to work. When you protect the human—not just the hardware—you don’t just lower risk. You build trust. And for the record? Paranoia gets a bad rap. Sometimes it’s just pattern recognition. #Cybersecurity #HumanRisk #AIThreats #Deepfake #RomanceScams #AI #RecruitmentFraud #InsiderThreat #Leadership #DigitalWellness #SpycraftForWork

“Clicked the phishing link? Terminate the employee.” That’s the usual genius solution. Because of course, when someone falls for a well-crafted phishing email, it’s their fault. Not the security team’s. Not the leadership’s. Just the employee who was never trained, never supported, and working with systems built in 2012. Let’s call this what it is: Lazy, reactive blame culture. Phishing is not a user problem. It’s a leadership problem. You can’t dump every risk on the people who have zero control over: • MFA enforcement • Email filtering • Device hardening • Privileged access • Alerting systems • And basic incident response You want users to behave securely? Give them a secure environment to work in. If a phishing email can bring down your company, the problem isn’t the user. It’s the architecture. Instead of pointing fingers, do this: Reduce blast radius. Don’t give anyone access they don’t need. Isolate critical systems. Assume compromise. Make phishing boring. Block obvious stuff before it even lands. Train people with real scenarios, not cartoonish e-learning junk. Reward reports. Don’t shame mistakes. If leadership doesn’t own this, They don’t deserve the title. Security isn’t just tech. It’s culture. It’s design. It’s ownership. And if you’re still blaming your employees for falling for phishing emails in 2025… You’ve already failed. 📌 P.S. As a trusted cybersecurity specialist, I can help you assess your cybersecurity risks and recommend the right solutions for your business. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need assistance. #cybersecurity

We are observing widespread and sophisticated fileless malware campaigns targeting companies in the African finance and telecommunications sectors. The campaign typically begins with a phishing email sent to departments such as Sales and Procurement, often disguised as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The email includes an attachment, commonly a PowerShell (.ps1) dropper file crafted to appear legitimate. In one notable case, the dropper, once executed, downloaded what appeared to be a random image file onto the user’s system. At first glance, the image seemed harmless, but its huge file size raised suspicion. Further analysis revealed the file contained a malicious DLL hidden using steganography. The attackers concealed binary malware within the image file. The dropper extracted this hidden payload and executed it in memory. It also created a scheduled task via Windows Task Scheduler, ensuring persistence even after reboot. The DLL was executed using in-memory .NET assemblies and PowerShell one-liners, avoiding detection by traditional antivirus solutions. Once active, the payload could accept commands from a remote C2 server, launch processes, and exfiltrate sensitive system information. The malware was observed collecting public and private IP addresses, geolocation data, a list of scheduled tasks, and basic system metadata (useful for lateral movement or persistence). These behaviours are consistent with advanced fileless malware operations, where attackers minimise their on-disk footprint and rely on living-off-the-land techniques (LOLBins) to evade detection. Indicators of compromise (IoCs) revealed that the email sender, domain, and IPs have previously been reported in malicious activity, including spoofing, credential harvesting, spam, and phishing. This suggests the threat actors are leveraging an established, actively maintained infrastructure. Recommendations for Security Teams - Train employees to recognise phishing tactics such as urgency-driven language, unexpected RFQs, and suspicious attachments. Encourage reporting to IT/security teams. - Configure filtering policies to block or sandbox compressed file types (e.g., .zip, .rar, .tgz) and scripts (.ps1, .js, .vbs) from untrusted senders. - Enable DMARC, SPF, and DKIM enforcement for email to avoid spoofing and spam. - Deploy advanced EDR solutions with behavioural detection to catch in-memory execution, PowerShell abuse, and steganographic payloads. - Monitor for suspicious persistence mechanisms (e.g., unexpected scheduled tasks). - Regularly apply security patches to operating systems, browsers, and office applications. - Restrict execution of unsigned PowerShell scripts via Constrained Language Mode or AppLocker/Defender Application Control. - Monitor outbound connections to detect C2 traffic patterns. - Hunt for anomalous large image files or unusual PowerShell activity in logs. #SOC #ThreatIntelligence #DigitalForensics #Malware #FilelessMalware #Threat

Phishing used to be easy to spot—bad grammar, generic greetings, and outlandish claims offering millions. But today, AI has changed the game. It is helping attackers craft flawless, personalized, and highly convincing messages that mimic real conversations. These emails don’t just look legitimate—they sound like your boss, your colleague, or your financial institution. With AI, threat actors can now: 🔹𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 that once took time. 🔹𝐁𝐲𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 like keyword-based spam filters and URL detection techniques. 🔹𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 by posing as senior executives, vendors, or IT support The result? Employees are no longer just skimming suspicious emails—they’re engaging with them. Traditional defences like spam filters and one-time security awareness training aren’t enough to stop it. Organizations need a multi-layered email security strategy that goes beyond outdated methods. ✅ 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Adopt solutions that leverage real-time behavioural analytics and machine learning to identify anomalies in email communication. ✅ 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 Transition from generic phishing awareness to targeted training that exposes the evolving tactics of AI-powered attacks. Simulated phishing exercises that mimic current threats can help build resilience. ✅ 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Encourage protocols such as secondary confirmation for sensitive transactions or requests, particularly those that deviate from the norm. ✅ 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬 Cybersecurity isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it deal. Continuously refine your email security protocols and conduct regular assessments to ensure your defences adapt to emerging threats. AI has made phishing smarter. Are we making our defences smarter, too? #EmailSecurity #CyberSecurity #AI

I've analyzed over 847 security incidents in my career, and 94% had one thing in common. It wasn't outdated firewalls. It wasn't unpatched servers. It wasn't even sophisticated malware. It was someone clicking "yes" when they should have paused. Here's what keeps me up at night as a security analyst... We spend millions on cutting-edge security tools, hire brilliant engineers, and build fortress-like infrastructures. Yet last Tuesday, I watched a $2M company nearly lose everything because someone thought they were helping HR by clicking a "urgent payroll update" link. The email looked perfect. Company logo, right formatting, even the CEO's actual signature. But here's the uncomfortable truth we don't talk about enough: Your employees aren't your weakest link. They're your strongest defense, if we actually treat them that way. During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, I'm seeing the same tired approach everywhere: "Don't click suspicious links!" and "Use strong passwords!" That's like telling someone "Don't get in car accidents!" without teaching them how to drive. Instead, here's what I've learned actually works: → Make it personal: "This is what a phishing email targeting OUR company looks like" → Make it simple: "When in doubt, call the person who supposedly sent it" → Make it empowering: "You just saved our company by reporting that suspicious email" The most secure organizations I work with don't shame people for mistakes. They celebrate the person who reports the weird email. They high-five the employee who double-checks before clicking. They turn cybersecurity into a team sport, not a blame game. Because here's what I've realized after years in the SOC: Every single person in your organization is already making security decisions every day. We can either help them make better ones, or we can keep fixing the consequences of the ones they make in the dark. The choice is ours.

If You’re Storing Client Data in Email, You Might as Well Hand It to Hackers Each week I receive 10-15 random emails from Law Firms all over the US that have clearly been hacked (because I am not a client of any of them). THIS IS A PROBLEM. - for more reasons than just my cluttered inbox. Law firms handle some of the most sensitive client data imaginable—financial records, medical documents, legal strategies, and personally identifiable information (PII). Yet, too many firms still use email like a filing cabinet. Here’s the reality: Email is NOT secure storage. Why? 📧 Emails get hacked daily and business email compromise (BEC) scams cost billions each year. 🔓 Attachments sit unsecured in inboxes, waiting for a breach. 🕵️ Phishing attacks target law firms because attackers know email is the weakest link. Now, imagine this: A cybercriminal gains access to your email. They don’t just steal client data—they sell it on the Dark Web, use it for fraud, or leak it to the opposition. 🚨 What should law firms do instead? ✅ Use a secure document management system—encrypted and access-controlled. ✅ Implement end-to-end encrypted communication tools for client discussions. ✅ Enforce strict email retention and deletion policies—keep only what’s necessary. ✅ Train employees on email security—human error is the #1 risk, BUT your employees SHOULD be your best defenders (if trained correctly). 💡 Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue—it’s a fiduciary duty. Your clients trust you to protect their data. Don’t let an outdated habit destroy that trust. 👇 What’s your law firm doing to secure client communications? Or is it? #CyberSecurity #LawFirms #DataProtection #ClientTrust #BECScams #GoldShieldCyber #KnowledgeIsProtection #CyBUrSmart

Cybersecurity Alert: Proofpoint Settings Exploited in Massive Phishing Campaign In a concerning development for email security, threat actors have found a way to exploit Proofpoint's email protection service to distribute millions of phishing emails daily. This sophisticated attack takes advantage of misconfigured Proofpoint settings, allowing malicious actors to bypass security measures and deliver potentially harmful content to unsuspecting recipients[1]. The exploit works by abusing the "On-Behalf-Of" (OBO) feature in Proofpoint, which is typically used for legitimate purposes such as allowing executive assistants to send emails on behalf of their managers. However, when improperly configured, this feature can be manipulated to send emails that appear to come from trusted domains[1]. Key points of the attack: - Attackers are sending up to 5 million phishing emails per day - The emails often impersonate well-known brands to increase credibility - Malicious content includes fake login pages and malware-laden attachments - Over 1,000 domains have been observed being abused in this campaign To protect against this threat, organizations using Proofpoint should: 1. Review and tighten their OBO configurations 2. Implement strict authentication policies 3. Regularly audit email security settings 4. Train employees to recognize phishing attempts This incident serves as a stark reminder that even trusted security solutions can become vectors for attack if not properly configured and maintained. As cyber threats continue to evolve, it's crucial for businesses to stay vigilant and regularly assess their security posture[1]. Citations: [1] https://lnkd.in/gQAq-_Bh