There is no “one sentence solution” for defending yourself or your organisation against cyber attacks via email

Just read any report on the state of cyber attacks and cyber security or click on this link below, to see just how much hackers use spam phishing email as an attack vector:

Email threat blog posts at Smart Thinking Solutions

So recently Diana was attending a networking meeting and promoting our Master Classes, which are designed to give organisations real world tools to improve their cyber security. When one of the attendees (a plumber or accountant, no disrespect to those professions but the profession of the speaker does not matter, the point is they were not a cyber security expert) suggested that just checking the email address was the best solution to phishing emails!

The reason a “single sentence solution” is no defence is that the cyber criminals have exploited the natural human tendency to trust. Phishing email attacks are one of the most prolific types of cyber attack an organisation or individual can suffer – spam email is unrelenting. It is also one of the most successful types of attack for the criminal hacker. The investment in time, by the crooks, is often low and the returns can be great.

“Training” could be a “one word solution” to spam email – but it is not – it is another brick in the wall

Smart Thinking and Octagon Technology offer a range of ways to consume our Social Engineering and Phishing Email Cyber Security Training:

• I can deliver it, via Teams, to an individual company. This has the advantage that the content and discussions can include some very specific company examples that you would not want discussed in a public session, so making your people extra prepared for combating spam. We will video this for you – so when you have new starts they can catch up.
• You can purchase a video of the presentation for use within your organisation, including notes, and have a one hour online group discussion meeting with me to ask questions and discuss your particular issues.
• We run the training session online and the attendees (up to twenty) are made up from a variety of organisations and companies. This format is less private so you may not want to discuss your issue in open forum – but you can contact me via Teams with your “secret” question after the meeting. We do not video these sessions.
• We have an online course, made up of a series of “coffee break” consumable videos with short online tests. This course includes a bonus section on passwords and MFA. (Don’t worry though, if you would like me to add passwords and MFA to any of the above options, just ask). This option is purchased per user but can be completed at their own pace.

Because you need to take a positive step in combating email phishing and cyber crime, click on this button and we will contact you quicker than your next bit of spam arrives.

References:

Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. (2019). Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2021. (report here)

Chris Packham dropped 70 Clash song titles during Springwatch 2013

MFA – Multi-factor Authentication