Let’s face it, branding is a big deal. And the easiest way to create a true brand is on social media. Being able to communicate your philosophy and engage with consumers is quite alluring for thousands of emerging brands. However, phishing attacks are on the rise through FB and Twitter and businesses are at risk because of it.
As the CEO of a corporation, you need to reduce your cybersecurity risks as much as possible. A great place to start in terms of minimizing phishing scams is social media. Enterprises use the top social platforms to promote their products and build online presences. However, hackers also use these social platforms to infiltrate companies; companies just like yours. Companies would be wise to invest additional dollars into cybersecurity training.
Read this post about social media phishing attacks so you can protect your organization.
Impersonation on Social Channels
A major social media phishing scam tactic that hackers use is impersonation. This is one of the easiest and most effective methods. Scammers can effortlessly impersonate both consumers and companies on social channels. Brands trying to increase their follower counts usually reach out to both consumers and other brands on platforms. You can ask consumers to become influencers or send them promotional messages to boost your sales. You contact other brands to inquire about partnerships. Be wary of using these tactics in your social media efforts. They could put you at risk of a phishing attack.
Facebook Link Scams
As you prepare your executive team to protect your business, keep Facebook link scams in mind. This is yet another increasingly popular social media phishing method. Hackers occupy Facebook to send users dangerous links. They begin by impersonating people and companies. Then, they post links on their friends’ pages. The link recipients assume that their Facebook friends are showing them interesting videos or websites. They click on the links and put company data at risk. Inform your marketing team about these Facebook tricks. That way, they can avoid becoming Facebook phishing victims.
Short URLs on Twitter
Companies are also falling victim to phishing attempts on Twitter. The hackers who use this social platform to retrieve business information use a short URL method. As a CEO, while you may know to watch out for shorter websites, your staff may not. This is especially true for marketing teams using Twitter as an advertising tool. Unfortunately, hackers use Twitter’s URL shortener to their advantage. They hide dangerous links within normal links and send them to businesses. Teach your team to avoid these types of URLs by searching for the direct link or using a hyperlink scanner. Then, they can avoid facing phishing attacks on one of today’s most popular social channels.
Direct Message Dangers
Businesses use direct messaging to communicate with consumers on social media platforms. When companies respond to consumer questions quickly, they satisfy more users. As a result, they build a good online reputation. While this is crucial to your brand’s success, you need to watch out for direct message dangers. Hackers pretending to be consumers send phishing links through DMs. They also send dangerous attachments for businesses to download. While a link might look like a document, it could contain malicious files. Protect your company from these malicious acts by establishing a process for analyzing direct messages. Hackers will not be able to get through to your company via direct message phishing attacks.
Prevention Tools
Furthermore, the surge of phishing attacks on social media has driven platforms to develop prevention tools. In response to the increasing risk on the platform, Instagram created a new feature for avoiding phishing scams. The new feature allows businesses to identify Instagram email scams easily. The app now offers an “Emails from Instagram” section. Put this feature to use when you receive an email that claims to be from Instagram, but looks suspicious. The security setting will tell you whether it is from a hacker or not. Because Instagram is one of the most hacked social media platforms, this tool can greatly benefit businesses around the world. Keep your eye out for more prevention tools. Put them to use when they launch so you can prevent phishing attacks.
More and more businesses are starting to face phishing attacks on social media. Hackers impersonate both consumers and brands on popular social channels. They use their impersonation tactics to persuade businesses to click on Facebook links. Hackers on Twitter also gain access to company information by using the URL shortener to hide malicious links. Companies need to watch out for dangerous links and attachments in direct messages as well. Finally, stay up-to-date with the latest prevention tools as they come out. Then, you can prevent social media phishing threats as they continue to popularize.