Phishing kits explained: How cybercriminals use them to steal your data

What is a phishing kit?

Understanding how phishing kits work

Cybercriminals buy and sell phishing kits on the dark web or through messaging apps like Telegram. These kits are often labeled as legitimate files, which helps these hackers fly under the radar. 

The contents of a phishing kit can vary — some contain only basic website components, while others come with extra features to make the scam look more legitimate. A simple phishing kit will contain the basic code for a website page, often in HTML, PHP, and CSS. It will also have the server-side scripts needed to send user data from the fake website to the criminal. 

More advanced phishing kits may contain features like a drag-and-drop website builder, code for extra site pages, or email templates. These features make it easier for cybercriminals to complete a phishing attack without a technical background.

Key elements of a phishing kit

Let’s break down some of the standard elements of a phishing kit. Note that the exact components of phishing kits vary depending on who’s distributing them and how much they cost.

• Website code: Phishing kits contain the code for fake websites that mimic real-life platforms. Some kits only include one page, while others include code for multiple pages to make the site look more realistic. 
• Malicious scripts: Each kit contains scripts that send data from the website to the cybercriminal automatically. In addition to collecting data from forms, these scripts may also collect the user’s location based on their IP address. 
• Data collection or exfiltration tools: Phishing kits also contain tools where hackers can access their data once it’s been siphoned away from the fake website. 
• Traffic blockers: Some phishing kits include geoblockers, redirect protocols, or other tools to limit traffic to the site, which helps keep it under the radar for longer. 
• Website builder: Advanced phishing kits sometimes contain a drag-and-drop website builder, which requires little to no coding experience to use. 
• Email templates: Some kits contain pre-written templates for emails, text messages, or social media messages that go along with the website. 
• Contact list: Some hackers will bundle phishing kits with a list of emails and phone numbers, giving cybercriminals a list of possible targets.

Hackers are constantly refining their strategies and improving phishing kits to evade detection. As these tools become more advanced, they also become harder to identify, increasing the risk of successful attacks.

Common purposes of phishing kits

Cybercriminals use phishing kits for many different types of scams, such as:

• Harvesting credentials: Hackers use credential harvesting kits to steal a target’s username and password and use that information to take over their account. These scams target many different types of accounts, including business software accounts and email accounts.
• Stealing payment information: Another common tactic is using a phishing kit to pose as a trusted financial institution, such as a bank, credit union, or fintech platform. Cybercriminals will use this strategy to steal PINs and account numbers to conduct identity theft. 
• Hijacking social media accounts: Many phishing kits focus on impersonating social media platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook. Hackers will steal the user’s login information to hijack their account. 
• Compromising business email accounts: Phishing kits are sometimes used as a first step in a business email compromise attack. The cybercriminal will use credential harvesting techniques to access a business email account of a high-level professional. They might then impersonate that person by using their email address to send fake messages and collect valuable intellectual property or business data. 

Common tactics used by phishing kits

The cybercriminals who purchase phishing kits use a variety of sneaky social engineering tactics to trick their victims into revealing sensitive information. 

Most successful social engineering attacks start with a convincing phishing email. Generative AI tools have made it easier for cybercriminals to write emails that mimic the tone and brand voice of the companies they are impersonating. Sometimes these emails also contain malicious attachments, delivering a one-two punch of phishing and malware in the same attack. 

On top of that, hackers will often use URL spoofing techniques as part of their phishing attacks. URL spoofing involves disguising a fraudulent or malicious link as a legitimate one. Cybercriminals will often do this by creating a button to mask the URL, using a link shortener, or using a URL with a very similar spelling. 

Real-life examples of phishing kit attacks

Phishing kits are a pressing cybersecurity threat that everyone should be wary of. Hackers around the world are developing phishing kits that mimic widely used websites and apps, making it easier than ever for threat actors to launch these devastating social engineering attacks. 

In 2023, the top three brands spoofed by phishing kits were Google, Telegram, and Microsoft. These communication platforms are natural targets for cybercriminals because they facilitate a wide range of personal and business conversations. Gaining access to an account on these platforms would also enable cybercriminals to impersonate legitimate users and launch further attacks. 

Cybercriminals have also developed phishing kits for social media platforms, with Facebook phishing and Instagram phishing being some of the most common. These phishing kits allow hackers to send fraudulent emails or messages that appear to come from these platforms, tricking users into revealing their login details.

Financial platforms like Visa, PayPal, and Mastercard are also popular targets for phishing kits because cybercriminals can use them to conduct identity theft scams and steal bank account details. 

Access and distribution of phishing kits

Phishing kits are distributed primarily through marketplaces and discussion forums on the dark web. Some kits are also distributed entirely through cybercriminal networks or groups. This means that wannabe hackers can’t access phishing kits unless they build a relationship with the distributor first.

Cybercriminals purposely make these kits difficult to find to keep their identity obscured. In some cases, they will disguise phishing kit listings on dark market webplaces using coded language, making them even more difficult to find. 

Pricing for phishing kits varies, but they’re cheaper than you might think. The simplest phishing kits can cost $25 or less, enabling scammers to get started without much upfront investment. However, more complex phishing kits can cost several hundred dollars. Cybercriminals often use cryptocurrency to pay for phishing kits because the transactions are harder to trace.

Some hackers are going beyond phishing kits and are now offering phishing as a service (PhaaS). Phishing kits provide site code, scripts, and email templates but require the cybercriminal to run the scam themselves. Alternatively, PhaaS platforms handle every aspect of the scam for you. 

PhaaS platforms include a variety of extra assets and services that aren’t included in standard phishing kits, such as website hosting, automatically scheduled email campaigns, pre-sourced lists of potential targets, and ongoing support. PhaaS platforms charge ongoing subscription fees, while phishing kits have just a one-time fee.  

The risks and impact of phishing kits

The cybersecurity threats and privacy risks associated with phishing kits are extensive. Successful phishing attacks have long-term consequences for both individuals and businesses, and these pre-made kits have made it easier than ever for threat actors to compromise secure data and accounts. 

The risks associated with phishing kits include:

• Data theft. Phishing attacks can compromise sensitive pieces of data, such as usernames, passwords, bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, and addresses. 
• System infiltration. If a cybercriminal successfully steals your username and password, they can access your personal or business accounts, impersonate you online, and gain access to secure systems.
• Financial loss. Cybercriminals often use phishing kits to launch identity theft scams, which can result in compromised bank accounts. 
• Reputational damage. If your business is targeted by a phishing scam, it could create distrust among your customers and ultimately damage your reputation. 
• Legal consequences. If a phishing scam compromises sensitive customer data, your business could be subject to legal consequences. This threat is of particular concern to businesses in industries like healthcare, finance, or real estate, which have strict compliance standards. 

How to spot and avoid phishing kit attacks

While phishing kit attacks can be devastating, you can learn how to spot and avoid them. To protect yourself, follow these tips:

1. 1.Look for suspicious URLs. Before clicking on a link, hover over it to check the URL. If it seems off or doesn’t match the site you’re supposed to be visiting, avoid clicking on it. 
2. 2.Check SSL certificates. SSL certificates indicate that a site is encrypted and safe to use. Malicious websites don’t have SSL certificates. If you’re unsure if a site is safe, click the padlock or settings icon to check the full URL. Secure URLs will start with “HTTPS,” while unsecured URLs start with HTTP. 
3. 3.Watch for suspicious emails. Phishing kit attacks often start with a generic email that looks like it’s from a trusted source. However, these emails are often riddled with grammatical errors or contain words and phrases that the source wouldn’t use. Learning how to spot a phishing email can help you avoid these scams.  
4. 4.Be cautious of urgent requests. Scammers will often use threats of unpaid bills or other fake emergencies in hopes that you will respond without thinking things through. If you get an email with an urgent request, don’t respond or click on any links right away. Instead, do some research to check its legitimacy first. 
5. 5.Use multi-factor authentication. Multi-factor authentication requires users to enter a one-time code sent to their phone or email to access their accounts, in addition to a username and password. Set up multi-factor authentication on your accounts so that even if they are compromised in a phishing scam, hackers still can’t get in. 
6. 6.Keep software programs updated. Software companies regularly update their platforms to address vulnerabilities and add new cybersecurity features. Keeping your programs up-to-date can help keep hackers out. 
7. 7.Use additional cybersecurity software. Advanced cybersecurity software like Threat Protection Pro™ will block phishing websites and warn you when you’re entering an unsecured site, helping you stay safer online.