Targeted Tax Filing Phishing Attacks

Citation
Department of Homeland Security, National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center, Targeted Tax Filing Phishing Attacks (Apr. 11, 2011) (full-text).

Overview
This advisory provides general guidance to public and private sector organizations and individuals about potential targeted phishing attacks, or spear phishing. During the tax filing time of year, the US-CERT sees increased spear phishing activity with respect to the income tax filing deadline. The objective of these types of attacks is to lure people to click on links or an attachment within the body of an email; leading that person to malicious computer code. This advisory offers some suggested methods that may minimize the likelihood of an attack becoming successful.