Posts Tagged ‘MFA’
Think You Can Spot a Phishing Email? Think Again.
Phishing attacks are no longer easy to spot. Gone are the days of obvious spelling mistakes and suspicious links. Today’s phishing emails are polished, professional and alarmingly convincing — making it harder than ever to tell what’s real and what’s a threat.
How to Spot a Phishing Email in 2025
Cybercriminals are evolving their tactics. Here’s how phishing emails are becoming more sophisticated:
📧 Perfect Grammar and Branding
Modern phishing emails mimic corporate tone, use accurate logos and even include familiar names — often from spoofed or compromised email addresses — to appear legitimate.
🔗 Links That Look Trustworthy
Attackers now send phishing emails via platforms we trust, such as Microsoft 365, Google or Amazon. They may even chain together multiple services to mask their activity and avoid detection.
📨 Sender Addresses That Look Spot-On
Phishing messages often come from domains that closely resemble real ones. Some attackers use compromised business accounts or register lookalike domains to trick recipients.
What Can You Do to Stay Safe?
Phishing is no longer just an email problem. Here are some essential tips to protect yourself and your business:
🔐 Highlight the Sophistication
Don’t rely on grammar or branding to spot phishing. Many emails now look perfect — even to trained eyes.
📱 Watch Out Beyond Email
Phishing can come via SMS, QR codes, social media messages and even direct messages on platforms like Microsoft Teams.
☁️ Trusted Platforms Can Be Abused
Just because an email comes from a known service doesn’t mean it’s safe. Always verify before clicking.
🛡️ Use Technology to Your Advantage
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. Use unique, complex passwords and consider moving to phishing-resistant authentication methods.
📞 Verify Requests
Always double-check sensitive requests — especially those involving payments or changes to routine processes. Use a known, separate channel like a phone call to confirm.
🧠 Stay Sceptical
Expect the unexpected. Question everything. Never act hastily on digital prompts, no matter how urgent they seem.
Protect Your Business from Phishing Attacks
At Outsource Group, we help businesses stay secure with tailored cyber security solutions, including:
- Phishing awareness training
- Email security tools
- Multi-factor authentication setup
- Endpoint protection and monitoring
📞 Call us: 028 9448 5112
✉️ Email: info@osgroup.co.uk
🌐 Visit: www.osgroup.co.uk
Cybersecurity Basics for Small Businesses: 5 Tools to Boost Your Defences
Cyber threats are on the rise — and small businesses are increasingly in the crosshairs. According to the NCSC Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024, nearly 50% of UK businesses and 32% of UK charities experienced cyber incidents last year.
Why Are Small Businesses Targeted?
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are often seen as easy targets for cybercriminals. Here’s why:
- There are more of them – creating a larger attack surface
- They often lack robust cyber security measures
- They can be used as entry points in supply chain attacks
But here’s the good news: you don’t need a huge budget to improve your cyber resilience. With the right tools and a consistent approach, you can protect your business from common threats.
5 Essential Cybersecurity Tools for SMBs
1. Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) 🖥️
EDR solutions automatically detect and isolate threats across your devices. This means fewer sleepless nights for your IT team and faster response times.
2. Password Manager 🔐
Strong passwords are essential, but managing them can be a hassle. A password manager simplifies this and often integrates with multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added security.
3. Employee Cyber Awareness Training 🎓
Your team is your first line of defence. Regular training on phishing, social engineering and safe browsing can prevent costly breaches.
4. Patch Management 🧩
Outdated software is a common vulnerability. Automated patch management ensures your systems stay up to date without manual effort.
5. Maximise Existing Subscriptions 📦
Already using Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace? These platforms include built-in security tools — make sure you’re using them to their full potential.
Cybersecurity Doesn’t Have to Be Complex
Start small, stay consistent and build a culture of security within your business. Even basic measures can make a big difference.
Help Us Secure Our World this Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Help Us Secure Our World this Cybersecurity Awareness Month
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CSAM), an international initiative that educates everyone about online safety and empowers individuals and businesses to protect their data from cybercrime. Even amidst large-scale data breaches and cyberattacks, Cybersecurity Awareness Month reminds everyone that there are simple, effective ways to keep yourself safe online, protect your personal data, and ultimately help secure our world.
Outsource Group is proud to be a Champion and support this online safety and education initiative this October.
The theme is Secure Our World! This initiative reminds us that there are simple actions we can take every day to protect ourselves, our families, and businesses from online threats.
CSAM focuses on the top four ways to stay safe online:
1. Use strong passwords and a password manager 🔑
2. Turn on multifactor authentication 🔰
3. Recognize and report phishing 🎣
4. Update software ⚙
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance. For more information about ways to keep you and your family safe online visit https://lnkd.in/eU_sZX28 and https://lnkd.in/eYiABmx
For more information on how we can help reduce your cybersecurity risk Contact – Outsource Solutions (osgroup.co.uk)
