Did you know 91% of cyber security breaches begin with a spear phishing attack?
Hackers have proven their favorite and most effective method of accessing sensitive information is through a technique called spear phishing. Spear phishing is a form of email attack, targeted at a specific person within an organization. Cyber criminals can pose as members of your organization, using email templates with identical fonts, logos, and styles that your team members are used to. The spear phishing recipient is prompted to click on a malicious link or attachment that acts as a gateway for malware and ransomware attacks. According to a recent study conducted by Vanson Bourne, the average financial cost to recover from a spear phishing attack is 1.6 million dollars.
Education is the number one defense against these attacks. Though unfortunately, many companies lack the security policies and training necessary to combat potential breaches. It is important to understand that as a business leader, it’s your responsibility to educate employees how to properly identify and respond to security threats. The technology superheroes at STL Communications provide the tools necessary to decrease an organization’s phishing click rate from an average of 31% to as little as 4% in just 12 months.
