7 Types of Phishing Attacks in Cybersecurity & How to Prevent Them

Have you ever received an email that looked a little off? Maybe it said you had won a lottery you didn’t even register for, or it said to “verify your account,” or you would lose access? That instinct alerting you that you might be phished is the most deceitful and dangerous feeling we all face online today. Moreover, it’s not just an issue from the past; it’s an issue that is increasing day by day. According to a report by PhishLabs, 2023 shows a 65% increase in phishing attacks over the last year.

In this blog, we will dive into the types of phishing in cybersecurity and how they are typically carried out, and, most importantly, how you can prevent phishing from coming into your personal or professional life.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a cybercrime whereby attackers tend to bluff you into disclosing private information, such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, or personal information. They achieve this by acting like someone whom you might trust. While phishing attacks can occur in different forms, their main aim has always been the same: to urge you into handing over something valuable.

1. Email Phishing

(One of the Most Common Types of Phishing Attacks)

What it looks like:

Every once in a while, you must have gotten an email that appears to be from your bank, a package delivery service, or maybe even your boss. There is an urgent message like “Your account has been hacked, click here to change your password!”

Real-World Example:

In 2020, fraudsters showed themselves as WHO officials during the COVID-19 pandemic, persuading people to click links or download files for updates. Many people unintentionally handed over personal data or infected their systems with malware.

How to prevent it:

• Double-check sender email addresses.
• Never click on suspicious links—hover to preview them.
• Use spam filters and security tools.

2. Spear Phishing

What it looks like:

Unlike general email phishing, spear phishing is targeted. Cybercriminals research you, your company, or your role and send personalized messages like Company projects, password reset requests, etc. that look extremely authentic. 

Real-World Example:

A finance employee at a large U.S. company received a seemingly normal email from their “CEO” requesting urgent wire transfer approval. It cost the company $100,000 before the fraud was detected.

Phishing attack prevention tip:

• Always verify with the sender using another communication channel.
• Educate employees about such tactics.
• Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for financial approvals.

3. Whaling

What it looks like:

Whale phishing attacks are yet another type of phishing that targets higher-level people like a CEO or CFO, or other government officials. The messages are made with such fine detail, and usually involve some type of legal matter or business deal.

Why it’s dangerous:

Executives often have access to sensitive systems, financial data, and decision-making powers.

Prevention strategies:

• Executives should undergo specific cybersecurity training.
• Use digital signatures to verify sensitive communication.
• Encourage a culture of double-checking important requests, no matter who they come from.

4. Smishing (SMS Phishing)

What it looks like:

You get a text saying your bank account has been locked, or your package is undeliverable. The message includes a link or a phone number. Clicking on the link could take you to a fake website designed to steal your login credentials or to install malware on your device. 

Example:

You might receive a text message from your phone company, the text message may be suggesting some issue with your account, and it may lead you to a link to fix it. When you have clicked the link, it has taken you to a fake website to gather your login details.

How to prevent phishing via SMS:

• Don’t click on links in texts from unknown senders.
• Block and report the number.
• Use mobile security apps that flag suspicious messages.

5. Vishing (Voice Phishing)

What it looks like:

Imposters, such as scammers, will call you as your bank, insurance, or tech support, and will have a sense of authority. They will encourage you to act fast, to get information from you before you think it through, and induce panic so that you give them your personal information or provide remote access.

Case Example:

A person pretending to be from Microsoft called users, claiming their computers were infected. Victims paid hundreds of dollars for “tech support” and unknowingly gave remote access to attackers.

Phishing attack prevention:

• Never share sensitive info over unsolicited calls.
• Hang up and call the official number listed on the company’s website.
• Beware of urgency—scammers love to rush you.

6. Pharming

What it looks like:

This one is tech-heavy. Instead of deceiving you into clicking a link, pharming will redirect you from a legitimate site to a malicious site even if you entered the exact URL. Pharming typically requires the alteration of DNS settings or the manipulation of vulnerabilities within your device or network.

Behind the scenes:

Attackers exploit DNS servers or infect your device to redirect traffic.

How to prevent it:

• Keep your device and browser software updated.
• Use secure, encrypted websites (look for “HTTPS”).
• Consider installing DNS security tools or VPNs.

7. Clone Phishing

What it looks like:

Hackers clone a legitimate, previously delivered email but replace the link or attachment with a malicious one. It comes from what appears to be a known sender. Since the message looks familiar and trustworthy, recipients are more likely to engage without suspicion.

Why it works:

You’ve already interacted with the original email, so this cloned one feels safe.

Phishing prevention tip:

• Recheck any unusual follow-ups to emails you’ve already received.
• Don’t download attachments you weren’t expecting.
• Use endpoint detection tools in professional environments.

Want to Outsmart Phishers? Here’s How You Can Stay Safe

In addition to the specific prevention tips for each type of phishing, here are some general security measures that apply across all phishing methods to keep you protected:

• Think before you click: You should always take a second to evaluate messages that ask for personal info or urge immediate action.
• Keep software updated: You should always keep your software updated because Many attacks exploit outdated software or unpatched systems.

• Use Mult-Factor Authentication (MFA): You should always have MFA enabled, so even if a password is hacked, the MFA creates another layer of protection that is hard to defeat.
• Monitor your accounts: You should always enable notifications for suspicious logins, logged-in devices, or unexpected purchases.
• Use anti-phishing tools: You should always install browser plugins, have antivirus software on your computer, and spam filters, which are all great first lines of defense.
• Be careful using public Wi-Fi: You should always avoid accessing sensitive accounts or transacting over public Wi-Fi, as it can be easily copied/monitored by attackers.

Conclusion

The types of phishing attacks are advancing to become smarter and sneakier every year. What once was a smoothly noticeable scam is now a carefully created strive to exploit your trust. But with expertise, cybersecurity awareness, and the right security measures, you can stay ahead of these threats.

Whether you’re a casual internet user, a remote worker, or managing an entire company, being conscious of the common types of phishing attacks is your initial defense. Apply the tips above, stay alert, and educate those around you.