Phishing is one of the most widespread cyberattack techniques today. Cybercriminals impersonate trusted entities (banks, courier companies, government offices, or even your CEO) to steal login credentials, passwords, credit-card details, or other sensitive data.
The method is simple – yet it remains extremely effective because it exploits the human factor.
🎣 What exactly is phishing?
Phishing is a social-engineering attack in which the attacker pretends to be a legitimate person or organisation.
The victim receives a message (e-mail, SMS, WhatsApp, Teams, etc.) that looks official and is tricked into clicking a malicious link or disclosing confidential information.
The ultimate goal is identity theft, financial fraud, or account takeover.
🧩 Typical red flags of phishing
You can usually spot phishing by these warning signs:
- 🔺 Urgent or threatening language (“Your account will be blocked in 24 h”, “Immediate action required”)
- 🔗 Links pointing to fake websites
- 📎 Attachments containing malware
- ✍️ Spelling mistakes, poor grammar, or awkward Polish/English
- 🕵️ Unusual requests to log in or provide sensitive data
📬 How to recognise phishing e-mails
Fake e-mails remain the most common delivery method. Quick checklist:
- Check the sender’s address – it almost always differs slightly from the real domain.
- Never click links in unsolicited messages – type the address manually instead.
- Do not open attachments from unknown or unexpected senders.
- Watch the tone – pressure, fear, or extreme urgency are classic manipulation tactics.
💡 Real-world phishing examples
- Fake bank e-mails asking to “update your details”
- “CEO fraud” / Business Email Compromise (BEC) – a message that appears to come from the boss requesting an urgent transfer
- Invoices with malicious macros
- SMS with a tracking link for a non-existent parcel
All of them play on emotions: fear, curiosity, or a sense of duty.
🛡️ Best prevention practices
The most effective defences combine people, processes, and technology:
- 📘 Regular employee awareness training and phishing simulations
- 🧰 Anti-phishing filters in mail gateways, browsers, and endpoint protection
- 🔒 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA/2FA) everywhere – even if credentials are stolen, the attacker cannot log in
- 📊 Ongoing phishing simulation campaigns with immediate feedback
🚨 What to do if you suspect phishing
- Do not click anything or download attachments.
- Forward the message to your IT/security team (or to abuse@company.com).
- Delete the e-mail (preferably from “Deleted Items” too).
- If you have already entered credentials → change the password immediately and inform administrators.
Speed matters – the faster an incident is reported, the lower the potential damage.
⚠️ Consequences of successful phishing attacks
In recent years phishing has caused Polish organisations:
- massive personal-data breaches,
- multi-million-złoty financial losses,
- reputational damage and loss of customer trust,
- mandatory breach notifications to UODO and the media.
A single click can trigger a domino effect with very serious business consequences.
⚙️ Summary
Phishing cannot be completely eliminated, but its impact can be dramatically reduced through:
- continuous user education,
- clear incident-response procedures,
- and modern technical safeguards.
Awareness and vigilance remain the first and most effective line of defence against social engineering.
📞 Need help?
Want to train your team to recognise phishing or implement a robust e-mail security policy?
📧 biuro@wichran.pl
📞 +48 515 601 621
Author: Piotr Wichrań – Court-appointed forensic expert (informatyka śledcza), OT/IT cybersecurity specialist, licensed private detective
@Informatyka.Sledcza