Cybercriminals don’t hesitate when it comes to creating new threat themes. Company and product rebrands and launches are prime targets for cybercrime to thrive and spin up phishing schemes to attack unsuspecting users looking to stay current.
The recent Twitter rebrand to X is just one example of how opportunity creates itself for hackers and scammers.
How can you keep your company and stakeholders safe in this age of digital cybercrime targeting brands and companies just as much as governments?
Here are some helpful tips to remember as you seek to find a positive security posture and mitigate human risk associated with and within your organization.
- Guard Your Brand's Presence
As your brand evolves and potentially rebrands, for whatever reason, it's crucial to protect your presence from falling into the hands of cybercriminals. Ensure your website and social media accounts are secure, with multi-factor authentication and limited users with access to the accounts.
Train and educate employees with access to accounts on the tactics cybercriminals use to infiltrate those accounts by exploiting the human element and gaining authentication credentials. Admins should be aware of things like an official Twitter handle being asked to verify with Twitter's blue checkmark to establish authenticity as part of the recent X rebrand. It’s an opportunity for hackers and scammers to phish for credentials and gain access to accounts, potentially wreaking havoc and causing irreparable brand harm.
Regularly monitor your brand's name and any related variations to detect any malicious imitations looking to dupe customers, ambassadors, advocates, or fans of your organization. Cybercriminals often create counterfeit accounts resembling your brand, even spinning up entire replicated websites and e-commerce stores, aiming to trick customers and followers into sharing sensitive information or downloading malicious content.
- Stay Cautious During Product Launches
Product launches are exciting moments for your brand and followers alike, but they can also attract the wrong kind of attention. During these major company events, cybercriminals may leverage enthusiasm around new products to execute phishing attacks. Think of a new iPhone launch or even a new movie (hello, Barbie). Remind your followers to remain vigilant and avoid clicking on suspicious links or engaging with new accounts you don’t link directly to from your official website or verified social accounts. Accounts promising exclusive access to pre-release products or extraordinary deals are the most likely to be malicious fakes. Encourage your followers, fans, and customers to verify the legitimacy of any product-related communications by double-checking the source, website URLs, and email addresses and always going directly to your official site for the latest information.
- Elevate Phishing Awareness with Regular Training
Investing in efficient, effective, ongoing phishing awareness training for your employees, vendors, and even customers and followers can be a game-changer. Educating everyone on what to watch out for elevates the baseline to mitigate cybercrime targeting mass numbers of people.
Common phishing techniques and tactics can be spotted and training people to spot these signs and be ready for phishing attacks keeps cybercriminals at bay when it comes to trying to leverage and exploit your organization’s good name and reputation.
Encourage everyone within your organization, and external stakeholders, to participate in phishing awareness programs and create their own strategies if you cannot directly provide resources. Knowledge is power, and the more people are ready to identify potential phishing attacks and report them promptly, the better!
At PhishingBox, we offer comprehensive cyber training solutions designed to equip your team and stakeholders with the skills needed to stay safe in the digital realm.
Secure Your Brand's Journey
In an ever-changing digital landscape, cybercriminals are always on the lookout for new opportunities to exploit human targets and your brand's recognition, rebranding initiatives, and product launches can be springboards for them to capitalize quickly.
Safeguarding your brand's presence, remaining aware and cautious during launches, and prioritizing phishing awareness training are a few key steps to protect your brand and followers from phishing attacks.
At PhishingBox, we are committed to ensuring your online safety, and we're here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a successful cybersecurity defense strategy tailored to mitigate cyber threats and keep your brand and followers safe from harm.
Remember, cybercriminals are even using AI copywriters to imitate effective human-like phishing schemes. Schedule a demo with our experts today and stay safe, stay informed, and stay connected with future blog content!
