Reports have surfaced regarding a sophisticated phishing attack leveraging Google Calendar to circumvent security measures. The cybercriminals behind the attack are aggressively targeting multiple organizations across different industries within a short span of time.
Exploiting Google Calendar for Phishing
Check Point Research recently disclosed a concerning discovery about a new phishing campaign on a global scale. This campaign utilizes Google Calendar to evade traditional anti-spam filters and reach unsuspecting victims.
The modus operandi of the attack involves sending phishing emails containing malicious Google Calendar invites along with links to Google Forms or Google Drawings. By leveraging authentic Calendar domains, these emails are likely to bypass spam detection mechanisms and land in users’ inboxes.
Upon opening the emails and interacting with the embedded links, recipients are redirected to a fake reCAPTCHA page. Once passed, users are directed to a fraudulent website masquerading as legitimate services like Bitcoin support or cryptocurrency mining. Victims are prompted to enter sensitive financial information, which can be misused for malicious activities.
The specifics of this phishing campaign have been detailed by the researchers in their report.
Protective Measures
While the attack may seem sophisticated, individuals can safeguard themselves by exercising caution with email communications. Verifying the authenticity of emails from trusted sources, corroborating information through alternative channels, and ensuring systems are regularly updated with security patches can thwart many threats.
Additionally, implementing robust security practices can enhance defense mechanisms against potential risks. This includes utilizing security checks for third-party applications, enabling multi-factor authentication for secure logins, and deploying advanced email security solutions that proactively identify and block malicious threats.
To counter the aforementioned campaign, Google recommends users to activate the “known senders” feature in Google Calendar.
Enabling the “known senders” setting in Google Calendar is advised by Google. This feature alerts users when they receive invitations from unfamiliar contacts or email addresses they have not engaged with previously.
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