Be On The Lookout: 5 Common Phishing Email Attachment Types And How To Spot Them

Phishing emails are a common form of cyber-attack, and their malicious attachments can cause serious harm to unsuspecting users. In this article, we discuss five different types of phishing email attachments that you need to be aware of and how to spot them. Read on to understand the types of malware hidden in these email attachments and how to protect yourself from them.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a type of online scam where criminals send emails posing as a legitimate organization in an attempt to trick victims into providing personal information or clicking on malicious links. These emails often contain attachments that, when opened, can install malware onto the victim’s computer.

There are several common types of phishing email attachments that you should be on the lookout for:

1. HTML Attachments: These attachments are usually disguised as harmless HTML files, but they can actually contain malicious code that can infect your computer if opened. Be sure to check the file extension before opening any attachment, and if it looks suspicious, don’t open it!
2. PDF Attachments: PDFs can also be used to deliver malware, so be cautious when opening PDF attachments from unknown senders. Again, check the file extension before opening, and if in doubt, don’t open it.
3. Word Documents: Microsoft Word documents can also be used to deliver malware. If you receive a Word document attachment from an unknown sender, do not open it! Check the file extension first, and if it looks suspicious, delete it immediately.
4. Executable Files: These are files that end in .exe or .scr, and they should never be opened unless you know exactly what they are and what they do. If you receive an executable file attachment from an unknown sender, delete it immediately – do not open it!
5. Zip Files: Zip files can often contain malicious files within them. If you receive a zip file attachment from an unknown sender, do not open it! Delete it immediately.

Malware Attachments

One of the most common types of phishing emails is those that contain malware attachments. These attachments can be in the form of a PDF, Word document, or even an executable file. And, if opened, can infect your computer with malware that can steal your personal information or even take over your machine.

To spot a malware attachment, you should be on the lookout for any email that contains an attachment that you weren’t expecting. If you’re not expecting an attachment from the sender, be sure to confirm with them before opening it. And, if the attachment is in an executable file format, such as .exe or .msi, then it’s almost certainly malware and should not be opened.

If you do accidentally open a malware attachment, be sure to run a malware scan on your computer as soon as possible to remove any malicious software that may have been installed.

Image Attachments

Image attachments are one of the most common types of phishing email attachments. They can be used to spoof a legitimate email address, or to embed malicious code that can steal information or infect your computer. Here are some tips to help you spot image attachment phishing emails:

• Look for unusual file types. Image attachments are typically .jpg, .png, or .gif files. If you receive an email with an attachment that has a strange file extension, it could be a phishing attempt.
• Be wary of unsolicited attachments. If you receive an attachment from someone you don’t know, or from a company that you do business with but didn’t expect an attachment from, it could be a phishing email.
• Check the sender’s email address. Phishers will often spoof a legitimate company’s email address in order to trick people into opening their attachment. If the sender’s address looks suspicious, it may be a phishing email.
• Hover over links in the email before clicking on them. This will show you the true destination of the link. If it looks suspicious, don’t click on it!

PDF Attachments

PDF attachments are one of the most common types of phishing email attachments. They can be used to deliver malware or to trick you into giving away personal information. Here are some things to look out for:

• Emails that say ‘you have a PDF attachment’ without any other context. This is a common phishing tactic, as attackers know that many people open PDFs without thinking twice.
• Suspicious domain names in the email address. If you’re not expecting an email with a PDF attachment from someone, be extra cautious if the email is from a domain name that looks similar to a legitimate website (e.g., www.p4yment-inform4tion.com instead of www.payment-information.com).
• An unexpected or generic sender name. Another common phishing tactic is to spoof the sender name so it appears as though the email is coming from a trusted source (e.g., your bank or boss).

If you receive an email with a PDF attachment and you’re not expecting it, don’t open it! Delete the email and report it to your IT department or security team.

Compressed File Attachments

When it comes to email attachments, one of the most common types of phishing attacks is compressed file attachments. These are usually .zip files that contain a malicious executable file. When the user opens the .zip file, the malicious executable will run and attempt to infect the machine with malware.

In order to avoid falling victim to this type of attack, it’s important to be able to spot compressed file attachments in emails. Here are some things to look out for:

• The email may claims that the attachment is a ‘secure’ or ‘encrypted’ file.
• The attachment may have a random string of characters as its name, or no name at all.
• The attachment may be much larger or smaller in size than you would expect.

If you receive an email with a compressed file attachment, do not open it! Delete the email immediately and report it as phishing to your IT department or security team.

Conclusion

Phishing emails are one of the oldest digital security threats and they are still a huge problem. Cybercriminals will use any means necessary to gain access to your private or financial information. By educating yourself on these common phishing email attachment types, you can help protect yourself from becoming a victim of this growing cybercrime trend. Always be on the lookout for signs of suspicious activity and take extra precautions when opening attachments from unknown sources.