What is barrel phishing? All you need to know

What is barrel phishing?

Barrel phishing, also known as double-barrel phishing, is a social engineering attack where cybercriminals send two or more separate emails to trick users into revealing sensitive information. In these phishing attacks, threat actors use social engineering techniques to lower a recipient’s guard with the conversational nature of their email messages. 

Barrel phishing (double-barrel phishing) vs. phishing

The main difference between the definition of double-barrel phishing and phishing is the number of emails used in an attack. As described, barrel phishing involves at least two separate emails. Phishing, conversely, usually only involves one. Barrel phishing attacks are also often more advanced since an initial benign email helps hackers establish trust before attempting data theft in the second email.

While some types of phishing involve other forms of communication like phone calls or text messages (known as vishing and smishing), barrel phishing is specifically carried out over email. 

How does barrel phishing work?

When an attacker targets a company or organization with barrel phishing, the initial phase involves sending the first bait email. This email rarely contains malicious content. Instead, it lowers the suspicion of unsuspecting readers by pretending to be someone they know and trust, like a coworker or executive.

The second stage of barrel phishing attacks is more like a traditional phishing attempt. The second email will include a malicious link or attachment that leads victims to share sensitive information on what appears to be a legitimate website or download malware onto their computers. Using social engineering techniques like credential harvesting, hackers gain access to victims’ login credentials, such as usernames and passwords.

How to identify barrel phishing

Double barrel phishing attacks can be tough to spot since these cybercriminals are more patient than typical phishers. They convincingly impersonate legitimate people and companies with familiar names and logos. Still, some signs can help you identify a malicious email:

• Unusual email addresses. Whenever you open an unsolicited email (even if you think it’s from someone you know), hover over the sender’s email address to see if the address looks legitimate.
• Suspicious URLs. Just like with email addresses, it’s important to hover over any potentially malicious links in the email before clicking to ensure they are genuine.
• Grammar and spelling mistakes. This red flag might be harder to spot in an email from an alleged friend since we all make typos from time to time, but official company emails are unlikely to contain these sorts of mistakes.
• The email doesn’t look right. While hackers can make phishing emails look pretty convincing, you should keep an eye out for outdated or incorrect logos — or suspicious emails that don’t include them at all.

Real-life barrel phishing examples

Double-barrel phishing emails make victims vulnerable by using introductory emails to gain their trust. Here are some real-life barrel phishing examples for you to watch out for:

• The fake acquaintance. In this barrel phishing example, the email sender will reach out claiming to be someone you met before. They will bank on the fact that you probably don’t remember everyone you met at some event and gain your trust. They will then follow up with the email containing a malicious attachment or link.
• The “new” employee. This double-barrel phishing technique involves a hacker pretending to be a new employee at your company. Then, they will send an attachment or link in a phishing email to access data like confidential information.
• Impersonating authority figures. Hackers might impersonate your boss or CEO to lend credibility and make you more likely to interact with phishing emails.

How to prevent barrel phishing

It may seem daunting to try to identify and defend yourself from these advanced phishing scams. However, you and your company can use various tools and methods to prevent barrel phishing. Follow these tips to improve your safety:

• Use two-factor authentication. You can add a layer of protection to your accounts by using two-factor authentication (2FA). Two-factor authentication, in addition to your username and password, requires another factor, such as a code, sent to your cell phone. So even if a hacker has your account credentials, they won’t be able to log in to your account.
• Educate employees. Implementing security awareness training is one of the best security measures you can take with your company. Security awareness training will train users to recognize warning signs and raise phishing awareness. Protect access to your company directory with cybersecurity awareness. Phishing simulations can be helpful in your office because they will test your employees’ reactions to phishing messages.
• Use data loss prevention software. Data loss prevention is a cybersecurity strategy that prevents unauthorized access to sensitive data. Data loss prevention software can help to protect your company’s confidential information.
• Implement natural language processing software. Natural language processing (NLP) is a subfield of artificial intelligence that enables computers to understand and interpret human language. NLP software can analyze the language of emails to detect phishing attempts.
• Use anti-phishing software. It’s tough trying to handle phishing detection on your own, and with anti-phishing software, you don’t have to. NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™ is an advanced security solution that provides a range of techniques and solutions to protect you and your company from successful phishing attacks. It uses technology powered by artificial intelligence to detect new threats. Threat Protection Pro™ also includes a malicious website blocker that uses machine learning technology to block digital threats. 

What to do if you suspect a barrel phishing attack

After learning about the warning signs in this article, you may suspect a potential barrel phishing email. Here are some steps to take:

• Don’t download any attachments or click links. If you open the first email in a barrel phishing attempt, you don’t need to panic since that email likely won’t contain any malicious content. If you do open emails with suspicious links or malicious attachments, make sure not to click them, because this is how hackers steal your sensitive data.
• Mark the email as junk. This step will help your email provider to improve its email security.

What to do if you fall victim to a barrel phishing attack

Vigilant as you may be, you may have fallen victim to a barrel phishing attack. Perhaps the hacker pretended to be a trusted friend in the office or your boss who’s putting pressure on you to finish a project. Successful phishing attacks prey on your emotions and cause you to act without thinking. You may be wondering what to do now.

First, if you have a compromised account, make sure to change your password and enable 2FA. Take screenshots and document any other information about the cyberattack as evidence.

You also need to report phishing right away. It is important to report cybercrime so you can protect yourself and others. This means reporting the barrel phishing attack to your email provider and your local authorities. In the United States, you should also file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center as well.