Wick Hill warns channel over phishing scam

Distributor received email demanding staff must give evidence at court case involving the company

Wick Hill has sounded the alarm after one of its employees was unsuccessfully targeted by a phishing email posing as a court summons.

A member of Wick Hill's team received an email claiming they must give evidence at a hearing involving the distributor. They were directed to an attachment claiming to contain a list of documents to bring.

According to Verizon's 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report, some 30 per cent of phishing emails were opened last year, up from 23 per cent in 2014, with 12 per cent of targets going on to open the malicious attachment or click a link.

Ian Kilpatrick, chairman of Wick Hill, claimed every firm is vulnerable to phishing attacks that attempt to dupe users into downloading malicious software by opening an attachment.

"It's the weakest link in many companies and that defines their security risk profile and the protection required," he said.

"All you need is one individual not paying attention to click through and defences are breached. In our case alongside our internal defences we run regular automated phishing simulations with results reporting. That keep everyone aware and secure.

"Alongside watching out for this one, it's a great opportunity for the channel to educate their customers"