The impacts of a phishing attack

What are the consequences of a phishing attack?

Most people have heard, “Don’t click on a suspicious link.” But few fully understand just how damaging a successful phishing attack can be. From financial loss to business disruption, phishing can devastate an organisation.

This article explores some of the most common impacts of phishing—and why stopping it early is critical.

How can phishing lead to credential theft?

A phishing attack for credential phishing targets employees’ usernames and passwords. Once login credentials are stolen, cyber criminals can gain unauthorised access to sensitive systems, emails, and databases.

Once they have successfully accessed an organisation’s network - things can escalate quickly - criminals may install encryption ransomware shutting off all access to organisational systems and data until a bounty is paid.

The result? Major disruption. IT teams must scramble to identify the breach, alert staff, recover files, and rebuild trust, all while operations grind to a halt.

What happens if malware is installed?

Once installed on a device, malware can:

-Spy on user activity

- Steal files

- Infect the broader network

Sometimes a phishing scam will lead a user to install malware (malicious software) on their device. Once infected, scammers have access to files, and possibly the organisation's network, as well as track user behaviour. By accessing these files and spying on employee’s digital movements, cyber criminals can actively steal or obfuscate important company data. Once that data is lost or stolen, employees and organisations may receive extortion emails, demanding payments to avoid the release of sensitive data or information.  

How does phishing lead to financial theft?

Through a social engineering attack like phishing, employees are exploited into providing access to data, information, networks and even money. Cyber criminals may access supplier information, then impersonate said suppliers, manipulating invoices with ‘updated’ banking details hoping organisations send invoice payment to criminal accounts.

Can phishing affect an organisation’s reputation?

Yes. The fallout from a phishing attack often includes reputational damage. If sensitive customer or employee information is exposed, trust in your brand may plummet—and legal obligations around data breaches may follow.

How can you prevent phishing attacks?

Phishing targets the human layer of security. That’s why your employees are your first line of defence.

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With the right security awareness training, your team can:

- Identify phishing attempts

- Report suspicious emails

- Protect systems and data

- Protect your organisation from phishing

These examples show just a few of the serious consequences phishing can have. But they also highlight a clear solution: empower your people.

With the right security awareness training and human risk management, employees can become a human firewall for your business. Request a demo of Phriendly Phishing today and let us show you how we can reduce your organisation’s phishing risk.

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