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Email Is a Cybercriminal’s Favorite Weapon – Here’s How to Disarm It 

September 26, 2024

Email remains one of the most widely used communication tools — and one of the most targeted vectors for cyberattacks. In fact, nine in 10 cyberattacks start with a phishing message. As phishing tactics continue to evolve, especially with the adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools by bad actors, the need for smart protection from phishing becomes more apparent. However, traditional email security measures, like the onboard security in suites like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, may struggle to keep pace with today’s sophisticated threats. To fill in the gap, many organizations are turning to specialized anti-phishing solutions as a wise security measure.  

An anti-phishing solution is now a must-have

Leveraging the power of AI, machine learning (ML) and automation, today’s smart anti-phishing tools offer a proactive defense against even the most sophisticated phishing attacks, including zero day threats and AI-created phishing messages that even savvy employees may not be able to sniff out. Those AI-enhanced messages are extremely effective, with 60% of participants falling victim to artificial intelligence (AI)-automated phishing in a study by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Keeping phishing messages away from employees must be central to a company’s defenses. By detecting and neutralizing phishing threats before they reach the inbox, an anti-phishing solution shields organizations from the costly consequences of a successful phishing-related cyberattack, like ransomware or business email compromise (BEC). Plus, a quality anti-phishing solution will offer employees valuable tools for reporting suspicious messages quickly and easily.

Fight AI-powered phishing with AI-driven security

AI, automation and machine learning (ML) are widely leveraged in cybersecurity because they can rapidly analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns and detect threats much faster than traditional methods. They don’t fall for social engineering. These technologies enable proactive threat detection while limiting the need for IT team members to undertake tedious manual processes. Machine learning also enables AI to help security solutions adapt to evolving cyberthreats without human intervention.

Here’s how AI is often used to combat phishing:

1. Phishing detection and prevention

  • Machine learning models: AI systems generally operate using machine learning trained on vast datasets containing examples of phishing and legitimate emails. These models can analyze incoming emails in real-time to detect suspicious patterns, such as unusual sender addresses, fake URLs and abnormal language or formatting, which might indicate a phishing attempt.
  • Natural language processing (NLP): NLP helps AI understand the content of emails, identifying subtle cues in language that may suggest a phishing attempt, such as urgency, threats or requests for sensitive information.

2. Automated threat response

  • Immediate isolation: When AI detects a potential phishing email, it can automatically isolate the message, preventing it from reaching the recipient’s inbox. This proactive approach reduces the risk of a user falling victim to the attack.
  • Automated reporting: AI can automatically report detected phishing attempts to IT security teams and relevant authorities. This speeds up response times and helps in tracking and mitigating broader phishing campaigns.

3. User behavior analytics

  • Anomaly detection: AI systems can monitor user behavior to identify deviations from normal activity, such as unexpected access to sensitive information or unusual login patterns. If an employee inadvertently clicks on a phishing link, AI can recognize this abnormal behavior and trigger a security response.
  • Training and simulation: AI can be used to automate phishing simulations and training for employees. By sending out controlled phishing attempts, AI can assess employee responses and tailor future training to address identified weaknesses.

4. Threat intelligence integration

  • Real-time threat intelligence: AI can integrate with threat intelligence platforms to stay updated on the latest phishing techniques and campaigns. This allows the system to quickly adapt to new threats and update its detection algorithms accordingly.
  • Automation of threat sharing: AI can automatically share detected phishing threats with other organizations or across security networks, improving collective defense against widespread phishing campaigns.

5. Email filtering and classification

  • Advanced spam filters: AI enhances traditional spam filters by using more sophisticated algorithms that can better distinguish between legitimate emails and phishing attempts, even if the phishing emails are highly customized or use sophisticated obfuscation techniques.
  • Content filtering: AI can analyze attachments and embedded links in emails to detect malicious content. For instance, it can scan URLs to determine if they redirect to phishing sites, even if they are obfuscated or shortened.

6. Real-time URL analysis

  • Dynamic analysis: AI can perform real-time analysis of URLs in emails to detect whether they lead to phishing sites. This includes checking for known malicious domains, analyzing the behavior of the website if visited and even rendering the page in a secure environment to observe any suspicious activity.

7. Post-breach analysis

  • Forensics and remediation: If a phishing attack is successful, AI can assist in the forensic analysis by identifying the source of the breach, how the attack unfolded and what data was compromised. This information can be used to prevent future attacks and to automate remediation processes.

 

Our innovative solutions help IT professionals mitigate all cyber-risks affordably

Our cybersecurity solutions offer the tools that MSPs and IT professionals need to mitigate cyber-risk effectively and affordably with automations and AI-driven features that also make IT professionals’ lives easier.   

BullPhish ID – This effective, automated security awareness training and phishing simulation solution provides critical training that improves compliance, prevents employee mistakes and reduces a company’s risk of being hit by a cyberattack.    

Dark Web ID – Our award-winning dark web monitoring solution is the channel leader for good reason. It provides the greatest amount of protection around with 24/7/365 human- and machine-powered monitoring of business and personal credentials, including domains, IP addresses and email addresses.   

Graphus – This automated anti-phishing solution uses AI and a patented algorithm to catch and quarantine dangerous messages. It learns from every organization’s unique communication patterns to continuously tailor protection without human intervention. Best of all, it deploys in minutes to defend businesses from phishing and email-based cyberattacks, including zero day, AI-created and novel threats. 

RocketCyber Managed SOC – Our managed cybersecurity detection and response (MDR) solution is backed by a world-class security operations center that detects malicious and suspicious activity across three critical attack vectors: endpoint, network and cloud.     

Book a demo of BullPhish ID, Dark Web ID, RocketCyber Managed SOC and Graphus. BOOK IT>>