The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued an alert on a phishing campaign using attachments that impersonate the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
In an effort to make their attack successful, the phishers spoofed the sender email address to appear as a National Cyber Awareness System (NCAS) alert.
Using social engineering, the attackers then attempt to trick users into clicking the attachments, which were designed to appear as legitimate DHS notifications.
The attachments, however, are malicious, and the purpose of the attack was to lure the targeted recipients into downloading malware onto their systems.
Both users and administrators are encouraged to take the necessary precautions and avoid becoming victims of the attacks.
Some of these steps include being wary of unsolicited emails, even if they appear to come from known senders. Users and admins alike are advised to verify web addresses independently to make sure that the message comes from a legitimate source.
Links and attachments that arrive via emails should be opened with care, especially if the authenticity of the sender cannot be verified. Scanning attachments with an anti-virus application before opening them should also help avoid getting infected.
Keeping all software updated at all times should also help mitigate such attacks, as phishers usually attempt to exploit known vulnerabilities in popular applications to install malware onto the victim’s machines.
“CISA will never send NCAS notifications that contain email attachments. Immediately report any suspicious emails to your information technology helpdesk, security office, or email provider,” the alert concludes.
