We use cookies to give you the best online experience. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy.

croom new

Preferred Blog

Preferred has been serving the Tinley Park area since 1991, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support, and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.

Facebook Phishing Is a Real Problem

Facebook Phishing Is a Real Problem

Hackers have often used email to trick users into clicking on fraudulent links or to hand over important credentials through phishing scams, but these are usually blocked by an enterprise-level spam blocker. However, hackers have learned that there is indeed a way around these spam blockers, and it’s through popular social media websites.

One of the big reasons why spam blockers are so successful is because it examines the content of the messages you receive and makes a determination about its authenticity. One way that it does so is by looking at links within the email body itself. If the link is legitimate and seems to go to a normal, recognized source, then the message can be considered “legitimate,” even if it is not necessarily safe.

Hackers are now attempting to use social media websites to subvert this weakness in spam blockers; they use the sites as a middle-man of sorts, using the social media website to write a post which includes a suspicious link, then using the social media platform’s sharing capabilities to effectively mask the suspicious link behind that of the social media platform.

This is a particularly crafty approach that should not be taken lightly, and it’s already in use at this present moment. Take, for example, a recent campaign using Facebook as the delivery mechanism for phishing threats. In this scenario, hackers send victims an email message suggesting that they have violated Facebook’s terms of service on their page. When the victim clicks on the link in the email, they are brought to a legitimate Facebook post further detailing the issues that must be addressed. The post prompts the user to click on a phishing link, and the rest is history.

The moral of the story is that you can never trust links in your email inbox from unknown users, even if they appear to be legitimate. Phishing can happen anywhere, especially where you least expect it, like on social media websites and even support forums. If the links look a little too suspicious, then you should wait to take action until you have consulted a security professional like those at Preferred. Our technicians are happy to review the contents of messages and make determinations on their authenticity, particularly for situations like the above one where it’s not clear if the link is legitimate or not.

Now, if you don’t have a spam blocking solution in place, we can help you out with that, too. With a unified threat management tool, you can take full advantage of great security solutions designed to keep you protected from the majority of threats. To learn more, reach out to us at 708-781-7110.

Are You Doing Everything You Can to Make the Cloud...
VoIP Can Make Communications Easier
 

Comments

No comments made yet. Be the first to submit a comment
Guest
Already Registered? Login Here
Guest
Friday, November 22 2024

Captcha Image

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

  • First Name *
  • Last Name *

      Mobile? Grab this Article!

      Qr Code

      Blog Archive

      Latest Blog Entry

      Businesses of every size need to prioritize their security. This fact has not changed and will not change anytime soon. What has changed, however, are the recommended ways to approach this security. Today, we wanted to review the history of today’s predominant cybersecurity ...

      Latest News

      Best Places to Work - 5 YEARS STRONG!!

      Preferred is once again, honored for being a Best Place to Work for the fifth straight year!  Our team is what makes Preferred a Best Place to Work.  

      Daily Herald Suburban Business 2024 Best Places to Work Honorees The Daily Herald Suburban Business has announced the names of 51 companies, in 5 categories of competition, that are honored as the 2024 Best Places to Work in Illinois. This statewide survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Illinois, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses.