What is a common indicator of a phishing attempt?

What is a common indicator of a phishing attempt?

There are several possible indicators of a phishing attack. The most common indicator of a phishing attempt is inconsistency.

• Inconsistent email addresses.
• Inconsistent links and domain names.

For example, if an email message claims to come from PayPal, but the link lacks paypal.com in the address, chances are, someone is phishing.

Suspicious attachments are another common indicator of a phishing attempt.

• Do you know who sent you the message?
• Did you request or expect it?

If not, be careful when you open it.

What is a common indicator of phishing attempt malware?

If the attachment file extension includes anything related to malware (exe, zip, or scr, for example), flag the file and set it aside to be scanned before you open it.

Related Services 

End-user awareness plays a big role in avoiding phishing attacks. Learn more here.

Related Resources 

• Learn about phishing basics.
• Phishing training for employees helps end users recognize and deal with phishing exploits.