Angler Phishing: What It Is and How to Avoid It
Angler phishing is a type of cyberattack that targets users on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Angler phishing attackers impersonate legitimate brands, organizations, or individuals and lure unsuspecting victims into clicking on malicious links, downloading infected attachments, or providing sensitive information.
Angler phishing is a serious threat to both individuals and businesses, as it can result in identity theft, financial losses, data breaches, or reputational damage. According to a report by Proofpoint, angler phishing attacks increased by 442% in 2020, making it one of the fastest-growing cybercrime techniques.
In this article, we will explain how angler phishing works, why it is dangerous, and how you can protect yourself from it. We will also provide some examples of angler phishing attacks and how companies are responding to them.
What is angler phishing?
Angler phishing is a form of social engineering that exploits the trust and familiarity that users have with social media platforms. Angler phishing attackers create fake accounts or hijack existing ones and use them to send messages to potential victims. These messages often contain urgent requests, enticing offers, or alarming warnings that prompt the recipients to take action.
For example, an angler phishing attacker may pretend to be a customer service representative of a popular brand and ask the user to verify their account details, claim a prize, or update their payment information. Alternatively, an angler phishing attacker may pose as a friend, colleague, or family member and ask the user to send money, share personal information, or open a file.
The goal of angler phishing is to trick the user into clicking on a link that leads to a fake website, downloading an attachment that contains malware, or providing information that can be used for fraudulent purposes.
How does angler phishing work?
Angler phishing works by exploiting the human tendency to trust and comply with messages that appear to come from credible sources. Angler phishing attackers use various techniques to make their messages look authentic and convincing. Some of these techniques include:
- Using logos, names, images, and URLs that resemble those of legitimate entities
- Mimicking the tone, style, and language of official communications
- Leveraging current events, trends, or topics of interest to attract attention
- Creating a sense of urgency, curiosity, or fear to elicit an emotional response
- Providing fake evidence, testimonials, or endorsements to boost credibility
Angler phishing attackers also use sophisticated tools and methods to evade detection and bypass security measures. Some of these tools and methods include:
- Using URL shorteners, redirects, or typosquatting to disguise malicious links
- Encrypting or obfuscating malware code to avoid antivirus software
- Using proxy servers, VPNs, or botnets to hide their location and identity
- Leveraging social media features, such as hashtags, mentions, or direct messages to increase reach and engagement
Why is angler phishing dangerous?
Angler phishing is dangerous because it can cause serious harm to both individuals and businesses. Some of the possible consequences of falling victim to angler phishing are:
- Identity theft: Angler phishing attackers can use the information they obtain from users to impersonate them online and access their accounts, services, or benefits. This can result in unauthorized transactions, fraudulent applications, or compromised credentials.
- Financial losses: Angler phishing attackers can use the payment details they collect from users to make purchases, transfer funds, or withdraw money. This can result in depleted bank accounts, stolen credit cards, or damaged credit scores.
- Data breaches: Angler phishing attackers can use the malware they install on users’ devices to steal data from their hard drives, cloud storage, or network. This can result in exposed personal information, confidential documents, or sensitive records.
- Reputational damage: Angler phishing attackers can use the fake accounts they create or hijack to spread misinformation, propaganda, or malicious content. This can result in tarnished reputation, lost trust, or legal liability for the entities or individuals they impersonate.
Types of angler phishing attacks
Angler phishing attacks can take various forms depending on the platform, medium, or channel they use to target users. Some of the common types of angler phishing attacks are:
- Social media angler phishing: This type of angler phishing attack uses social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, to send messages to users. The messages may appear to come from official accounts of brands, organizations, or celebrities, or from fake accounts that mimic them. The messages may also come from compromised accounts of friends, colleagues, or influencers. The messages may contain links to fake websites, attachments with malware, or requests for information.
- Email angler phishing: This type of angler phishing attack uses email to send messages to users. The messages may appear to come from legitimate senders, such as banks, government agencies, or online services, or from spoofed addresses that resemble them. The messages may also come from hacked accounts of contacts or acquaintances. The messages may contain links to fake websites, attachments with malware, or requests for information.
- Text message angler phishing: This type of angler phishing attack uses text messages (SMS) or instant messages (IM) to send messages to users. The messages may appear to come from authentic sources, such as delivery services, mobile operators, or payment platforms, or from spoofed numbers that look like them. The messages may also come from hijacked accounts of contacts or friends. The messages may contain links to fake websites, attachments with malware, or requests for information.
- Phone call angler phishing: This type of angler phishing attack uses phone calls (voice) or voice messages (voicemail) to send messages to users. The calls may appear to come from genuine callers, such as customer service agents, technical support staff, or law enforcement officers, or from spoofed numbers that sound like them. The calls may also come from stolen accounts of contacts or relatives. The calls may contain instructions to visit fake websites, download malicious software, or provide information.
How to identify angler phishing attacks
Angler phishing attacks can be difficult to spot and distinguish from legitimate communications. However, there are some signs and clues that can help users identify and avoid them. Some of these signs and clues are:
- Look for suspicious links and attachments: Angler phishing messages often contain links that lead to fake websites or attachments that contain malware. Users should always check the URL of the link before clicking on it and look for any misspellings, inconsistencies, or deviations from the original domain name. Users should also avoid opening any attachments that they are not expecting, recognizing, or trusting.
- Be wary of unsolicited messages: Angler phishing messages often come unsolicited and without any prior contact or relationship with the sender. Users should be cautious of any messages that they receive out of the blue, especially if they ask for personal, financial, or security information.
- Verify the sender’s identity: Angler phishing attackers often impersonate legitimate entities or individuals and use their names, logos, or images to deceive users. Users should always verify the identity of the sender by checking their profile, contact details, or online presence. Users should also look for any signs of tampering, alteration, or duplication in the sender’s account or message.
- Be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true: Angler phishing attackers often use offers that seem too good to be true to lure users into clicking on their links, downloading their attachments, or providing their information. Users should be skeptical of any offers that promise rewards, benefits, or discounts that are unrealistic, unusual, or excessive.
How to protect yourself from angler phishing attacks
Angler phishing attacks can be prevented and mitigated by following some simple and effective steps. Some of these steps are:
- Never click on links in unsolicited messages: Users should never click on any links in unsolicited messages without verifying their source and destination. Users should also avoid entering any information on websites that they are not familiar with or trust.
- Be careful about what information you share online: Users should be careful about what information they share online and limit their exposure to potential attackers. Users should also review their privacy settings and permissions on social media platforms and online services and restrict access to their personal, financial, or security information.
- Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication: Users should use strong passwords that are unique, complex, and hard to guess for each of their online accounts and devices. Users should also enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible to add an extra layer of security and verification.
- Keep your software up to date: Users should keep their software up to date on their devices and applications and install any patches or updates that are available. Users should also use antivirus software and firewall software to protect their devices and networks from malware and intrusions.
- Report angler phishing attacks to the appropriate authorities: Users should report any angler phishing attacks that they encounter or experience to the appropriate authorities, such as the social media platform, the email provider, the phone company, or the law enforcement agency. Users should also warn their contacts and friends about any angler phishing attacks that they receive or discover.
Case studies
Angler phishing attacks are not hypothetical or rare scenarios. They are real and frequent occurrences that affect millions of users and businesses around the world. Here are some examples of angler phishing attacks and how companies are responding to them.
- In 2020, a group of angler phishing attackers targeted Netflix users on Twitter and Instagram by creating fake accounts that resembled the official Netflix accounts. The attackers sent messages to users offering free Netflix subscriptions for a year if they clicked on a link and entered their credit card details. The link led to a fake website that collected the users’ information and charged them for a subscription that they never received.
- In 2021, a group of angler phishing attackers targeted Amazon customers via email by sending fake order confirmation emails that looked like they came from Amazon. The emails contained attachments that claimed to be invoices or receipts for the orders. The attachments contained malware that infected the users’ devices and stole their data.
- In 2022, a group of angler phishing attackers targeted Facebook users in text messages by sending fake security alerts that claimed to come from Facebook. The messages warned the users that their accounts had been compromised and asked them to click on a link and verify their identity. The link led to a fake website that asked the users to enter their login credentials, phone numbers, and security codes.
- In 2023, a group of angler phishing attackers targeted Apple users on phone calls by calling them from spoofed numbers that appeared to be from Apple. The callers claimed to be Apple support agents and told the users that their devices had been hacked or infected. The callers instructed the users to visit a website and download software that would fix the problem. The website and the software were fake and contained malware that gave the attackers remote access to the users’ devices.
To combat angler phishing attacks, companies are taking various measures, such as:
- Educating their customers and employees about angler phishing and how to identify and avoid it
- Enhancing their security systems and protocols to detect and prevent angler phishing attempts
- Monitoring their online presence and reputation and reporting any fake or fraudulent accounts or activities
- Providing their customers and employees with tools and resources to report and resolve any angler phishing incidents
Conclusion
Angler phishing is a type of cyberattack that targets users on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Angler phishing attackers impersonate legitimate brands, organizations, or individuals and lure unsuspecting victims into clicking on malicious links, downloading infected attachments, or providing sensitive information.
Angler phishing is a serious threat to both individuals and businesses, as it can result in identity theft, financial losses, data breaches, or reputational damage. Angler phishing attacks can be identified and avoided by looking for suspicious links and attachments, being wary of unsolicited messages, verifying the sender’s identity, and being skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true.
Angler phishing attacks can be prevented and mitigated by never clicking on links in unsolicited messages, being careful about what information you share online, using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication, keeping your software up to date, and reporting angler phishing attacks to the appropriate authorities.
We hope this article has helped you understand what angler phishing is and how to protect yourself from it. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us.
And remember: stay safe online! 😊
