What to do after falling for a phishing attempt
1. Recognize the Phishing Attempt:
Be vigilant and identify the signs of a phishing attempt. Realize that you may have fallen victim to a phishing attack if you have clicked on a suspicious link, provided personal information, or taken any actions based on the phishing email.
2. Act Quickly:
As soon as you realize that you have fallen for a phishing attempt, act quickly to minimize the potential damage. Every minute counts in mitigating the impact of the attack.
3. Change Your Passwords:
Change the passwords for all your corporate accounts that might have been compromised during the phishing attempt. Create strong, unique passwords for each account.
4. Inform IT
Report the phishing attempt to your IT. Provide them with all the relevant details about the phishing email by clicking the Cofense Phishing Reporter Button and describe any actions you took in response to the email.
5. Check Account Activity:
Review the activity logs and recent login sessions of your corporate accounts. Look for any unauthorized access or suspicious activity and promptly report it to the IT or security team.
6. Monitor Financial Accounts:
If you provided any financial information in response to the phishing email, closely monitor your financial accounts for any unauthorized transactions or suspicious activities.
7. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):
Implement MFA wherever possible for your corporate accounts. MFA adds an extra layer of security, making it harder for unauthorized individuals to gain access to your accounts even if they have your password.
8. Educate Yourself and Others:
Take this opportunity to educate yourself and your colleagues about phishing attacks and how to identify and avoid them in the future. Awareness is a crucial defense against such attacks.
9. Stay Informed:
Stay up-to-date with the latest cybersecurity threats and trends. Regularly review cybersecurity training materials provided by your organization to stay informed about emerging phishing techniques.