PHISHING ATTACK & COUNTER MEASURES

INTRODUCTIONCoined in 1996 by computer hackers.Hackers use e-mail to fish the internet hoping to hook

users into supplying them the logins, passwords and/or credit card information.

In a typical phishing attack a user will receive an e-mail message impersonated to be sent by a financial institution.

1%-20% users respond to such attacks.

PHISHING ATTACKSPhishing attacks are combined with malicious code

attacks such as Mimail, Bank Withdrawal Trojan, Mydoom.m worm etc

In such blended attacks these virus/worms carry the payloads which harness email addresses from the internet and affected systems and further launch phishing attacks.

PHISHING EXAMPLESExample 1.

Example 2.

PHISHING TRENDS

APWG is an industry association focused on eliminating the identity theft and fraud that result from phishing and email spoofing.

This group provides forums to discuss phishing issues, trials and evaluations of potential technology solutions.

Publish Phishing Attack Trends Report

TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONSUltimate solution is training the end users not to reveal

any sensitive information.Basic approach for an effective anti-phishing effort

includes detection, prevention and awareness.Counter measures are in the form of technological

solutions, policy guidelines and user awareness.

• Anti-phishing solution includes:a. Detection: scanning, flitering and alertingb. Mail server authenticationc. Secure web-authenticationd. Digitally signed e-maile. Mail gateway filteringf. Desktop filtering

Secure web-authentication

Digitally signed e-mail

Other counter-measures are:a. Changes in policy of financial institutionsb. User awarenessc. Anti-phishing techniques

CONCLUSIONThe phishing attacks are major threat to e-commerce and e-

banking applications. The scammers are making huge losses by stealing financial data from the users. There is need for adoption of counter-measure steps by the financial institutions and individual customers for fighting phishing attacks. Digital signature usage should be promoted for secure mail transactions.

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