The tactics have changed — the goal hasn’t
Phishing isn’t just about poorly written emails from overseas scammers anymore. Today’s phishing attacks are polished, targeted, and alarmingly convincing. Attackers now mimic trusted vendors, use compromised internal accounts, and even register lookalike domains that pass basic scrutiny.
The goal remains the same: get someone to click, give up credentials, or authorize a payment. But the path there is more subtle — and more dangerous — than ever.
Attackers know your vendors and your routines
Modern phishing campaigns are often built using data scraped from public websites, social media, or leaked credentials. Attackers know who your vendors are. They know your billing cycle. And they know how to craft a message that seems harmless — even urgent.
It might be a request to reauthenticate your Microsoft 365 login. A fake invoice. Or a shared document from someone you recognize. One click is all it takes to hand over access.
Why standard filters don’t catch it
Most phishing emails don’t contain malware, suspicious links, or misspelled words. They rely on social engineering — not technical red flags. Because of this, traditional spam filters and antivirus tools often miss them.
By the time the user realizes something is wrong, the damage is done. Credentials are harvested, inboxes are compromised, and attackers start quietly watching for high-value targets.
Business email compromise starts here
Once inside, attackers set forwarding rules, impersonate executives, and launch internal phishing campaigns. This is where phishing becomes business email compromise (BEC) — and where the real risk begins.
BEC attacks don’t just target one person. They exploit trust inside your organization, and they’ve cost businesses billions in direct losses.
Think your phishing filters are enough? Cloudstar can show you what’s getting through — and how to stop it before it spreads.