Phishing remains the #1 entry point for ransomware and data breaches. Why? Because it's easier to trick a human than it is to hack a firewall. In 2024, attackers are using more sophisticated methods, including AI and lookalike domains, to bypass traditional security filters. Here is your definitive guide to staying safe.

1. The "From" Field & Lookalike Domains

The most basic check is looking at the sender's address, but scammers have gotten clever. They use "Display Name Spoofing" to make the name look legitimate while the actual email address is anything but.

Watch out for Homograph Attacks

Scammers often use characters from different alphabets that look identical to Latin characters. For example, replacing a Latin 'o' with a Cyrillic 'о'. To the naked eye, microsoft.com looks exactly like the real thing, but it directs you to a malicious server.

The "Visual Illusion" Trap:

You see: PayPal Security <service@paypaI.com>

Look closely at the 'l' in PayPal—is it a capital 'I' (i)?

Real Address: service@paypal.com

2. Engineered Urgency & Fear

A phishing email is designed to make you act before you think. By creating a sense of false urgency or fear, attackers bypass your critical thinking.

Common triggers include:

Financial Loss: "Your account will be debited $499 unless you cancel now."
Legal Threats: "Final notice regarding your unpaid tax filing."
Security Breaches: "Unauthorized login detected from Moscow. Secure your account."
Missed Opportunity: "Exclusive offer expires in 15 minutes."

3. The "Hover" Trick (Link Masking)

Attackers love to hide malicious URLs behind friendly-looking buttons or hyperlinks. Hypertext can say anything, but the underlying URL cannot be easily faked.

How to do it:

On a desktop, hover your mouse over the link/button (don't click!).
Look at the bottom-left corner of your browser or email client.
Verify if the domain matches the service. Is it apple.com or apple-support-login-secure.xyz?

Note: On mobile, you can long-press a link to see the preview, but be careful not to accidentally tap it!

4. Unexpected Attachments & Malicious Payloads

In the past, we mostly worried about .exe files. Today, attackers use common office documents to deliver malware.

PDFMalicious PDFs

Can contain embedded links to phishing sites or trigger browser vulnerabilities.

XLSMacro Malware

Excel files that prompt you to "Enable Content"—once clicked, they run malicious scripts.

Golden Rule: If you weren't expecting a file, don't open it. Call the sender to verify.

5. Generic Greetings & Lack of Detail

While Spear Phishing (highly targeted attacks) is on the rise, many scammers still play the numbers game. They send millions of emails hoping a few people will bite.

Look for greetings like "Dear Valued Customer," "Dear Member," or "Greetings [Your Email Address]." Legitimate companies you have an account with will almost always address you by your first name.

What to do if you've been phished?

1Disconnect: If you downloaded a file, disconnect your device from the internet immediately to prevent data exfiltration.

2Change Passwords: Change the password of the service being phished, and any other accounts that use the same password.

3Enable MFA: If you haven't already, enable Multi-Factor Authentication. It's the single best way to protect your account.

Stop Guessing. Start Scanning.

Our AI-powered engine analyzes over 70 signals—from domain age to linguistic patterns—to give you a definitive safety score.

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