Clone phishing is a sophisticated and insidious form of phishing attack that capitalizes on the trust and familiarity of legitimate email communications. Unlike traditional phishing, which regularly involves sending fake emails from seemingly random or suspicious sources, clone phishing has a subtler approach. Attackers first obtain a legitimate email that the goal has previously received. This can be achieved through various means, such as for example hacking into the e-mail accounts of trusted contacts or intercepting emails via compromised networks. When the attacker has got the legitimate email, they create an exact replica or "clone," but with malicious links or attachments substituted for the first ones. The cloned email is then sent to the first recipients, rendering it appear as if it's an extension or follow-up of a previous legitimate conversation.

The effectiveness of clone phishing lies in its capability to exploit the trust that recipients have in known senders and familiar email clone phishing. When recipients see an email that appears ahead from the trusted source and references a prior interaction, they are more prone to select links or open attachments without suspicion. This is particularly dangerous in a small business context, where employees frequently receive and react to emails from colleagues, clients, and partners. The cloned email can contain malicious software, such as ransomware or spyware, or lead the recipient to a fake website built to steal login credentials and other sensitive information.

One of the main challenges in defending against clone phishing is the issue in distinguishing cloned emails from legitimate ones. Attackers go to great lengths to produce their cloned emails appear authentic, replicating not merely the information but in addition the sender's current email address and even the e-mail signature. Advanced cloning techniques might also involve mimicking the writing style and tone of the initial sender, making it even harder for recipients to detect the fraud. Traditional email security measures, such as for instance spam filters and antivirus programs, may not be sufficient to catch these sophisticated attacks, especially if the cloned email arises from a compromised account within the same organization.

To combat clone phishing, organizations must adopt a multi-layered method of email security. This includes using advanced email filtering solutions that will detect anomalies in email metadata and content, implementing strong authentication mechanisms like multi-factor authentication (MFA), and regularly updating security software to shield against the most recent threats. Employee training and awareness programs will also be crucial, as human vigilance is usually the last type of defense against phishing attacks. Employees ought to be trained to identify the signs of phishing, such as unexpected requests for sensitive information, unusual links or attachments, and discrepancies in email content or formatting.