How to Remain Secure Against URL Phishing?

URL phishing is a cyber-attack that has been invading Internet users for a really long time; however, a large percentage of users still fall into the trap of phishing. But the good news is you can stay secure against URL phishing if you follow certain rules.

Here are the steps to follow to remain secure against URL phishing:

1. Use a VPN
2. Conduct URL filtering
3. Check Domain Authenticity

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a sort of cyberattack in which perpetrators try to trick victims into disclosing private data, including credit card numbers, usernames, and passwords. Usually, this is accomplished using phony websites, texts, or emails purporting to be from banks, governmental bodies, or other respectable businesses.

Social engineering tactics are frequently used in phishing attacks to deceive targets into performing security-compromising acts, like opening attachments containing malware, clicking on dubious links, or giving attackers access to private information.

What is URL Phishing?

Phishing techniques include URL phishing, sometimes referred to as link phishing, in which the attackers deceive victims into visiting malicious websites using fake URLs (Uniform Resource Locators).

These URLs are frequently used to impersonate trustworthy websites, internet businesses, or financial organizations.

Phishing emails and messages that use hyperlinks to take recipients to phony login pages or fraudulent websites intended to steal their login credentials or financial information are sometimes referred to as URL phishing attacks.

Phishing URLs aim to trick people into unintentionally sharing private information or infecting their devices with malware.

Types of Phishing

Phishing can be of multiple types or categories. Here are some of the types of URL Phishing that you need to avoid:

1. Deceptive URLs: Attackers create URLs that closely look like legitimate websites to confuse users and click on them.For example, they might replace characters with visually similar ones, like replacing “BIGHIT.com” with “B1GHIT.com” or “amazOn.com” with “amazon.secure-login.com.”These URLs look similar at a glance but are used to fake websites where their credentials are stolen.
2. Subdomain Spoofing: Phishers create subdomains that mimic legitimate websites. They might use a subdomain like “login.bighit.scam.com” to trick users into believing they are on the authentic Bighit website. Users may not notice the subtle difference and enter their login credentials, which the attackers then capture.
3. Homograph Attacks: In a homograph attack, attackers use characters from different character sets that look similar to characters in the legitimate URL.For example, they might use characters from Latin or Greek alphabets that resemble English characters. This can result in URLs like “bаnk.com” (where the “a” is actually a different character) instead of “bank.com.”Users may not notice the difference and trust the malicious website.
4. URL Shorteners: Phishers often use URL shortening services to mask the true destination of their malicious links. Users are more likely to click on shortened URLs because they appear harmless. However, these shortened URLs can lead to phishing sites designed to steal sensitive information.
5. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks: In MitM attacks, attackers intervene during communications between users and legitimate websites.They may create phishing websites that copy legitimate sites and then redirect users to these fake sites by intercepting requests to the real website.This type of attack is particularly dangerous because users may not realize they are interacting with a malicious site.
6. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks: Phishers utilize the website’s flaws to insert malicious scripts that lead visitors to phishing websites. The script runs when visitors visit the hijacked website, taking them to a fake login screen where their credentials are taken.
7. Man-in-the-Browser (MitB) Attacks: In MitB attacks, malware is installed on users’ computers to intercept and modify web page content in real time. This allows attackers to manipulate URLs and redirect users to phishing sites without their knowledge.It’s essential for users to be cautious when clicking on links, especially in unsolicited emails or messages.In this upcoming segment, we will discuss how you can identify and keep yourself secure from these attacks.

7 Ways to Identify A Phishing Attack?

Identifying if you are under a phishing attack has become much easier. These are some typical rules to do so:

1. Check Sender’s Email Address: Check the sender’s email address carefully. Phishing emails often come from addresses that are slightly misspelled or appear similar to legitimate addresses. For example, “support@helloworld-security.com” instead of “support@helloworld.com.”
2. Urgent Emails: Phishing emails often use generic greetings like “Dear Customer” instead of addressing you by name. They may also create a sense of urgency to prompt you to take immediate action, such as claiming your account will be suspended unless you provide information urgently.
3. Suspicious Links or Attachments: Hover your mouse over links in emails (without clicking) to see the actual URL.If the link doesn’t match the supposed sender or seems unrelated to the email’s content, it could be a phishing attempt. Look for misspelled URLs or domains that imitate legitimate ones.
4. Personal Information Request: Legitimate organizations typically won’t ask you to provide sensitive information like passwords, Social Security numbers, or credit card details via email. Be wary of any email requesting such information, even if it appears to be from a trusted source.
5. Mismatched Branding: Examine any discrepancies in logos, colors, or formatting with respect to the sender’s actual branding. Phishers may imitate brands, but minute variations could indicate that the email is a fraud.
6. Requests for Money: Be cautious of emails requesting donations or money transfers, especially if they claim to be from a charity or a person in need. Verify the legitimacy of such requests through other channels before taking any action.
7. Check the Website: If you’re directed to a website, ensure it’s secure by looking for “https://” at the beginning of the URL and a padlock icon in the address bar. The lack of these indicators suggests the website may not be legitimate.

Fig: A padlock icon in the address bar of a browser

By staying mindful of these signs, you can protect your data and information better from falling victim to phishing attacks.

How to be Safe Against URL Phishing?

There are various methods to stay safe against URL phishing. The most popular ones in terms of users’ comfort are listed below:

1. Using A VPN: Since the duty of a VPN is to encrypt your data, it does exactly that. Once you connect to a VPN service, they automatically encrypt your data and block any unnecessary pop-ups, conveniently avoiding phishing attacks.VPN will also notify you if your connection is unsafe and has a possibility of data leakage.

2. Filtering URL: URL filtering is a critical defense against phishing attacks. It involves using antivirus software, browser features, DNS filtering, and web security gateways to block access to known malicious websites in real time.By employing URL filtering, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to phishing attempts by preventing access to faulty websites before any harm occurs.

3. Check Domain Reputation: Check if the domain is authentic. We mentioned earlier how to check domains. However, some websites, such as URLVOID, can help you find out whether a domain is authentic.

A VPN Overview

Now that we have established that you should use a VPN to keep yourself secure from URL phishing attacks, let us gain insight into VPNs.

VPNs are virtual private networks that encrypt all your data using robust protocols such as OpenVPN, WireGuard, and Shadowsocks, as well as high-end encryption systems like AES-256, which are military-grade.

VPNs can help you bypass unwanted geo-restrictions and access regionally blocked content from anywhere around the world.

For the best service, you need to choose a secure and trustworthy VPN.

To know more about VPNs, you can refer to this article: https://symlexvpn.com/what-is-a-vpn/.

Conclusion

As an Internet user, you must ensure that you are safe online and that none of your data is compromised. Using a VPN will not only ensure that you remain secure against URL phishing but also allow you to keep yourself anonymous online.

So, it’s time to grab your deal now!