Phishing refers to the tactic used by scammers who impersonate reputable brands and lure victims to click on suspicious links so that they can breach the privacy and sensitive data of individuals. You can call image-based phishing a relatively sophisticated method of cyberattack involving using images instead of text to deceive victims and persuade them to click pictures sent through email or message. The image finder will also help you easily identify visuals flagged as suspicious elements scammers use for phishing attempts. Hence, staying aware of a few image verification techniques that can help you spot phishing attacks and avoid cybersecurity threats has become essential. It is worth mentioning that these methods mainly focus on discrepancies likely to be found in the images attached to messages sent through emails or on social media, possibly redirecting recipients to malicious sites. While scammers use multiple forms of malicious activities to steal the sensitive data of netizens, phishing is considered one of the most prominent. Since scammers trying to deceive netizens through image-based phishing attempts primarily rely on visuals, it is essential to authenticate the website before following any CTA. As many people have become aware of text-based phishing, scammers have started using images for the same purpose. Trusting received emails or messages on social media without paying much attention can cost you sensitive data and allow scammers to breach your cybersecurity. Scammers impersonating a legitimate brand or individual embed malicious URLs to fake login pages and phishing sites. Using it will help you match images received through suspicious emails or messages with reputable sources. If you spot a QR code attached to the message, avoid scanning it, as it may redirect you to a phishing website. They use deceptive emails and images to breach the privacy of victims and steal their sensitive data. This article will familiarize you with key observational and technical methods you can use to spot such image-based phishing attempts. People unaware of image-based phishing consider such elements authentic and fall victim to cyberattacks. While you may have already heard much about text-based phishing, the rise of similar scams involving images has recently seen a significant surge. The images featured in emails or messages usually contain embedded links, QR Codes, or text mimicking legitimate branding. The rise of deceptive tactics, including image-based phishing attacks, has made it quite challenging to stay safe online. The first thing you must do upon receiving a suspicious email or message featuring images persuading you to visit a website is not to act immediately. The problem with most people is the awareness of techniques to spot phishing attempts. Additionally, such visuals that are possibly getting used for phishing attempts appear pixelated, which can be another sign of a cybersecurity threat. While you can verify logos and visual branding featured in images by comparing them to ones used by official websites and social media handles, relying only on comparison is not enough. Knowing these techniques helps you avoid scammers and protect yourself from visual traps threatening your sensitive online data. In addition to emails, this type of phishing is also possible across social media. Don’t trust it immediately if you don’t find any malicious elements while inspecting a suspicious email or message. Hence, staying safe online by avoiding falling victim to such attempts is essential to ensure the safety of your privacy and sensitive information.
This Cyber News was published on cybersecuritynews.com. Publication date: Tue, 15 Apr 2025 16:20:16 +0000