Phishing Simulations

Through realistic simulations of phishing attacks, we can help you assess the current security level of the human element within your company.

Phishing refers to the process of obtaining sensitive data by deceiving the communication partner. A wide variety of media are used as communication channels for this purpose; however, in most cases, a phishing attack is carried out via email. The target is led to believe they must take action through fabricated scenarios—such as a request to change a password due to suspicious activity. This false sense of urgency causes the target to let their guard down and become careless, resulting in the deception going unrecognized and sensitive data being handed over to the attacker.

It is important to understand that phishing targets the human element in technology; therefore, technical measures—such as spam filters—can only supplement protection against such attacks, not prevent them entirely.

We help you identify potential risks within your company in a timely manner and ensure that your employees and data remain secure through realistic phishing simulations and targeted awareness training.

Data leakage

In many cases, phishing attacks are designed to obtain sensitive data—such as login or payment information—from the targeted employee. With this information, attackers can then gain access to additional data, such as information about other employees or even customer data.

The consequences for the company range from the theft of valuable internal company information to serious financial losses and media uproar, which can lead to a loss of customers. Depending on the type of data stolen, there may also be consequences for employees or customers in their personal lives. This can result in identity theft and wire transfer fraud for those affected.

Malware

Another common attack scenario involves email attachments and download links. If the targeted employee opens a malicious attachment, the malicious code that the attacker embedded in the attachment is executed on the employee’s computer. This malicious code can serve various purposes, but it is often ransomware, which encrypts all data on the hard drive and demands a large sum of money as a ransom for decryption.

In the event of a ransomware attack, the company faces significant financial losses. The execution of malicious code can also lead to system outages or compromise. Cleaning up infected systems is also a time-consuming and costly process. In addition, media coverage of the incident can result in the loss of customers and, consequently, financial losses.

Phishing comes in various forms

The most common type of phishing involves generic emails sent to a wide range of people. The focus here is on a broad target audience, as this increases the attack’s potential success rate.

Spear Phishing / Whaling

Spear phishing targets a specific individual. By gathering detailed information about the target, attackers craft a customized email that appears trustworthy and authentic due to its level of detail. Unlike traditional phishing, the malicious email is not sent to multiple recipients but exclusively to the person for whom the email was tailored.

Whaling refers to a specific type of spear phishing in which a senior executive or manager within a company is targeted.

Vishing

The term “vishing” is a combination of the words “voice” and “phishing” and refers to the practice of obtaining sensitive data through phone calls. By impersonating other people, attackers attempt to verbally persuade the target to disclose private information. In doing so, attackers pose as employees of a company to justify their request for personal data and prevent the target from becoming suspicious.

Smishing

The term “smishing” is a combination of the abbreviation “SMS” and the word “phishing” and refers to the practice of obtaining sensitive data by sending text messages. The method is similar to traditional email phishing. For example, package deliveries are used as a cover to specifically deceive the target.

How can we help you?

Through customized, realistic simulations of phishing attacks, we can help you assess the current security level of the human element within your organization. To do this, we conduct a phishing campaign tailored to your specific needs and, based on an analysis of the simulation results, develop customized recommendations for improving security within your organization to protect you from malicious actors in the future.

We value the uniqueness of your business and therefore create customized campaigns for you that are precisely tailored to your specific circumstances and needs. Based on your privacy policies and compliance procedures, we can adapt our simulation accordingly and, thanks to our solution, generate reports without using any personally identifiable information. You will also benefit from a detailed report following the completion of our simulated phishing attack, which includes a wide range of key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to you and corresponding metadata.

If a simulated phishing attack is not an option for you, we also offer targeted training for your employees and managers, during which we address specific risks relevant to each individual, practice recognizing phishing attempts in a timely manner, and, based on this, develop and recommend measures for everyday work.