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What is Phishing?

By Mailneo Team|

Phishing is a type of cyberattack where fraudulent emails are designed to look like they come from a trusted source, aiming to trick recipients into clicking malicious links, downloading malware, or handing over sensitive information like passwords and credit card numbers.

Why It Matters

Phishing is the most common attack vector in cybersecurity, accounting for over 80% of reported security incidents according to the FBI. For email marketers and senders, phishing is relevant in two ways: protecting your subscribers from phishing attempts that impersonate your brand, and making sure your legitimate emails don't accidentally look like phishing (which tanks deliverability).

How It Works

Attackers send emails that mimic a trusted brand's design, From address, and tone. They'll spoof the sender name, clone the email template, and include a link to a fake login page or a malicious attachment. Sophisticated attacks (called spear phishing) target specific individuals with personalized details pulled from LinkedIn or data breaches.

The technical defenses against phishing are email authentication protocols: SPF verifies the sending server, DKIM proves the message wasn't tampered with, and DMARC tells receiving servers what to do with messages that fail those checks.

Quick Tips

  • Set up DMARC with a policy of p=reject to prevent attackers from spoofing your domain
  • Implement BIMI so your brand logo appears in the inbox -- it helps recipients distinguish your real emails from fakes
  • Train your team to recognize phishing; even seasoned professionals fall for well-crafted attempts

Related Terms

DMARC

A policy framework that tells mail servers what to do when SPF or DKIM checks fail.

SPF

An email authentication protocol that specifies which servers can send for your domain.

DKIM

DomainKeys Identified Mail — a cryptographic signature proving your email hasn't been tampered with.

Email Authentication

Protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC that prove your emails are really from you.

BIMI

Brand Indicators for Message Identification — displays your logo next to your emails in the inbox.

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