Phishing 101: Don’t Get Hooked, Be the Predator
Phishing is one of the oldest tricks in the book, yet one of the most dangerous. Despite years of awareness campaigns and email filters, phishing attacks continue to devastate organizations across every industry. Why’s that you ask? Because attackers are evolving faster than defenders. They exploit human psychology, craft (un)believable messages and slip past traditional security layers with alarming precision.
If your network lacks real-time NDR you’re essentially leaving the doors… and windows unlocked. This is where we pitch Redborder… acting as your network’s vigilant watchdog, spotting threats before they escalate into full-blown incidents.
How are people still falling for Phishing Emails & Why it works
Attackers don’t rely on brute force alone. They manipulate trust and urgency. Common tactics include:
- Executive Impersonation: Emails appearing to come from a CEO, vendor or partner, creating the illusion of authority.
- Urgency Traps: Messages demanding immediate action, like “Your account will be suspended” or “Pay now to avoid penalties.”
- Stealthy Malicious Links & Attachments: Files or URLs that appear legitimate but secretly deliver malware or remote access trojans.
- Social Engineering Beyond Email: Phishing is no longer limited to inboxes. Attackers leverage messaging apps, cloud services and even phone calls.
The result? A single click can compromise a device and allow lateral movement across your network, all before you can say “Why is my cat emailing the CEO?”
NDR: Network True Sight, The Eyes Inside
Traditional security tools are excellent at controlling the perimeter, but once a phishing attack bypasses your firewall or spam filter, they often fail to detect ongoing activity. NDR changes this by monitoring behavior inside your network, giving you the visibility and control to act instantaneously.
Here’s how NDR protects you from the phishing aftermath:
- Detecting Abnormal Internal Traffic
Even the most convincing phishing attacks leave a trace. NDR identifies devices communicating with unknown servers, unusual login patterns or abnormal file transfers, signalling that a breach has occurred.
- Spotting Lateral Movement
Phishing often acts as the first domino. Once inside, attackers try to move laterally to gain higher privileges. NDR tracks these movements, alerting you before sensitive data is accessed.
- Automated Containment
When suspicious activity is detected, NDR can automatically isolate affected devices or block malicious IPs. This rapid response prevents attackers from spreading across the network.
- Context-Rich & Actionable Alerts
Your SOC team doesn’t have time to chase false positives. Redborder provides highly contextual alerts, helping security teams to focus on real threats with clear guidance for action.
Spotting the Bait Before It’s Too Late
Technology is critical, but us humans remain the first line of defense. Educating your team about phishing is essential:
- Check the sender carefully: Look beyond display names; inspect email addresses and domains.
- Be wary of unexpected requests: Attachments, links or messages that demand action should trigger caution.
- Question urgency and fear: Phishing often relies on panic. Slow down and verify.
- Verify sensitive information requests: Use secondary channels before responding.
Even if employees accidentally slip and click, Redborder watches the network 24/7, spotting and stopping threats before they get ugly.
Contact us today for more information and be sure to check out our blog (NDR Explained: How AI Detects Anomalies in Your Network)
