Phishing emails are a persistent threat in the digital world, designed to deceive individuals into revealing personal information or performing actions that compromise their security.
These emails often masquerade as legitimate messages from trusted entities, making them difficult to spot. But what happens if you open a phishing email? The consequences can range from minimal to severe, depending on your actions after opening the email. Understanding the potential risks and knowing what steps to take if you find yourself in this situation is crucial for protecting your personal and financial information.
Did You Open a Spam Email?
Opening a spam or phishing email doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in immediate danger, but it does open the door to potential risks. Business Email Compromise (BEC) or Email Account Compromise (EAC) are common results of phishing attacks and are responsible for some of the largest financial losses in cybercrime. In 2020, for example, the FBI reported that $1.8 billion was lost due to BEC and EAC attacks.
Phishing emails often appear to come from legitimate sources, such as a colleague or a company you frequently interact with. These emails are designed to trick recipients into performing actions like forwarding the email to others, clicking on malicious links, or downloading harmful attachments.
The mere act of opening the email doesn’t usually compromise your data, but it can allow cybercriminals to gather certain information about you, such as your location, operating system, and IP address. This data can be used to create more targeted attacks in the future.
If you open a phishing email but don’t interact with any links or attachments, your immediate risk may be low. However, it’s important to be vigilant and take steps to protect your information. In the following sections, we will explore what to do if you suspect that you’ve opened a phishing email, how to recognize the signs of phishing attempts, and what actions to take if you’ve clicked on a phishing link.
Let’s Examine a Real-Life Phishing Email
To understand the tactics used by cybercriminals, let’s take a closer look at a real-life phishing email example. Suppose you receive an email from “U.S. Postal Shipping” informing you that there is an issue with your package delivery. At first glance, the email might seem legitimate, especially if you’re expecting a package. However, upon closer inspection, certain red flags become apparent.
The sender’s email address, for instance, may be a long string of jumbled characters, which is unlikely to be from a legitimate source.
The email might also contain grammatical errors, poor-quality images, or an urgent call to action that pressures you to click on a link or download an attachment. Scammers rely on catching you off guard or tricking you when you’re not paying close attention to these details.
Phishing emails like this one are designed to exploit common human behaviors, such as the desire to quickly resolve an issue or respond to what appears to be a legitimate request.
These emails may also include malicious links or attachments that can infect your device with malware, steal your personal information, or lead you to a fake website designed to capture your credentials.
Just opening the phishing email without taking any further action doesn’t typically compromise your data. However, the email may contain tracking mechanisms, such as hidden pixels, that notify the sender when the email has been opened. This information can be used to verify that your email address is active, making you a potential target for future attacks.
3 Steps To Take If You Opened a Phishing Email
If you’ve opened a phishing email, it’s important to take immediate action to mitigate any potential risks. Here are three steps you should follow:
1. Go Offline and Scan for Malware
The first step is to disconnect from the internet to prevent any malware from spreading to other devices on the same network. You can do this by turning off or unplugging your router or setting your device to Airplane Mode. Once offline, use anti-malware software to scan your device for any viruses or malicious programs. If malware is detected, take the necessary steps to remove it. During this time, avoid conducting any online transactions or accessing sensitive accounts, as doing so could expose your information to cybercriminals.
2. Report the Email to IT or the Company Being Impersonated
If the phishing email was sent to your work or university email address, report it to your IT department immediately. They can help assess the situation and take steps to protect the network. If the email appears to be from a specific company or individual, reach out to them directly to verify the legitimacy of the email. Additionally, report the phishing attempt to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org. If the phishing attempt was made via text message, forward the message to SPAM (7726) to report it.
3. Mark the Email as Spam in Your Email Client
Most email clients, such as Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and Outlook, allow you to mark an email as spam or junk. Doing so helps your email provider improve its spam filtering capabilities, reducing the likelihood of similar emails reaching your inbox in the future. This action is more effective than simply deleting the email or clicking “unsubscribe,” as it directly informs your email client about the nature of the message.
Did You Click on a Phishing Link? Follow These 7 Steps
If you’ve clicked on a phishing link or downloaded a suspicious attachment, don’t panic. Follow these seven steps to protect yourself and minimize potential damage:
1. Close All Browsers and Tabs
If clicking a phishing link opened a new tab or window in your web browser, close it immediately. Avoid interacting with anything on the page, as doing so could further compromise your security. Phishing links often lead to websites with unsecured connections (no SSL certificate), misspelled domains, or fake payment pages designed to steal your information.
2. Delete Any Automatic Downloads
If a phishing email caused an automatic download, don’t open the downloaded file. It could contain malware that can steal your personal information or lock you out of your data. Look for signs of a compromised device, such as performance delays, unfamiliar browser tools or plugins, persistent pop-ups, or unusual system behavior. If you notice any of these symptoms, disconnect from the internet and stay offline until you can perform a thorough scan and clean-up of your device.
3. Report Identity Theft if You Replied to the Email
If you replied to the phishing email and provided sensitive information, such as your credit card number or Social Security number, it’s crucial to take immediate action. Contact your financial institutions to report potential fraud and consider freezing your credit to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name. Additionally, report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and local law enforcement to document the identity theft.
4. Change All Usernames and Passwords
Cybercriminals often use phishing attacks to obtain usernames and passwords, which can then be used to dark web access your online accounts. Change your login credentials for all accounts that could be compromised, especially those associated with financial services, email, and social media. Consider using a password manager to generate strong, unique passwords for each account and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security.
5. Backup All Your Files
If your device is infected with malware, your backups may also be compromised. However, it’s still important to create a backup of all your files to ensure that you don’t lose important data. There are several ways to back up an infected hard drive, such as copying files to an external drive or cloud storage. Once you’ve backed up your data, scan the backup for malware and restore files as needed.
6. Get Verified Tech Support
If you’re unsure how to remove malware or secure your device, seek professional help from verified tech support. Most manufacturers offer free or paid technical support, depending on your device’s warranty status. Be cautious of tech support scams, which often involve unsolicited phone calls, emails, or pop-up warnings that claim there’s a problem with your device.
7. Consider Identity Theft Protection
Identity theft is a growing concern, and taking steps to protect yourself can provide peace of mind. Identity theft protection services, such as Identity Guard, offer features like dark web monitoring, USPS address change monitoring, and anti-phishing tools. These services can help detect and prevent identity theft before it causes significant damage.
Learn To Recognize The Signs of Phishing Emails
One of the most effective ways to protect yourself from phishing attacks is to learn how to recognize the signs of a phishing email. Here are some common characteristics to watch out for:
- Forced Urgency: Phishing emails often create a false sense of urgency, pressuring you to act quickly or face a penalty. Be wary of emails that demand immediate action.
- Unfamiliar Sender: If you receive an email from an unknown sender or someone outside your organization, exercise caution before opening any links or attachments.
- Questionable Grammar: Legitimate companies usually take care to produce well-written emails. Poor grammar, spelling mistakes, and awkward phrasing can be signs of a phishing attempt.
- Misplaced Salutations: Phishing emails often use generic greetings like “Dear [Name]” instead of personalized salutations. This can be a red flag, especially if the email claims to be from a company you do business with.
- Out-of-Place Links and Attachments: If you’re unsure about the origin of a link or attachment, trust your instincts and don’t click on it. Hover over links to see the actual URL before clicking, and avoid downloading attachments from unknown senders.
- Misspelled or Mismatched Domains: Check the sender’s email address carefully. If the domain doesn’t match the company they claim to represent, it’s likely a phishing attempt.
References:
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/computer-science/articles/10.3389/fcomp.2021.563060/full
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8864450/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563224001420
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40747-022-00760-3
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10567879221082966