Most ransomware incidents begin with a user action — clicking a malicious link, opening an infected attachment, or providing credentials to a fake login page. Technical controls help, but user awareness is critical.
Effective security training makes the threat personal. Users who understand that a single bad click can expose their own banking information, medical records, or personal files — and potentially cost them their job — take security more seriously than those who see it as an abstract corporate concern.
While no amount of training can eliminate risk entirely, gamification, phishing simulations, and recognition programs help reinforce good habits without creating a culture of fear.
Websites
Malicious websites are a common infection vector. Drive-by downloads can exploit browser vulnerabilities without any user interaction beyond visiting the page. Malvertising — malicious code injected into legitimate advertising networks — can appear on otherwise trustworthy sites.
User guidance: be cautious of links from unfamiliar sources, watch for typosquatted domains (misspelled versions of legitimate sites), and never enter credentials on a site reached via an unexpected link. If a login page appears unexpectedly, navigate directly to the site instead.
Email remains the primary attack vector for ransomware. Phishing campaigns range from mass-distributed generic messages to highly targeted spear-phishing crafted for specific individuals. Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks impersonate executives or vendors to trick employees into transferring funds or sharing credentials.
Red flags: urgency or pressure tactics, unexpected attachments, mismatched sender addresses, requests to bypass normal procedures, and links that don’t match the displayed text. When in doubt, verify through a separate channel — call the sender directly using a known number, not one provided in the email.
Phone
Voice phishing (vishing) uses phone calls to extract information or manipulate users into taking dangerous actions. Common pretexts include fake IT support (“we’ve detected a virus on your computer”), vendor impersonation, and urgent requests from supposed executives.
Callback scams are particularly effective — a voicemail or email asks the user to call a number, where an attacker is waiting to social-engineer them.
User guidance: verify caller identity before providing any information or credentials, never allow remote access to your computer based on an inbound call, and be suspicious of any caller creating urgency or pressure. Legitimate IT and vendors will not be offended by verification.
Text / SMS
SMS phishing (smishing) exploits the trust users place in text messages. Common lures include fake delivery notifications, banking alerts, MFA codes, and messages impersonating IT or HR.
Shortened URLs are particularly dangerous in SMS because users can’t easily see the destination. Attackers also use smishing to intercept MFA codes or trick users into approving fraudulent authentication requests.
User guidance: never click links in unexpected text messages, especially those creating urgency. If a message claims to be from your bank or a delivery service, open their app, manually visit their website, or call them directly rather than following the link. Report suspicious messages to IT.