The Threats of Consent Phishing Attacks to Businesses

Phishing attacks are popular with attackers because of the ease of deployment. They are used to steal data and gain unauthorized access to systems and servers. Phishing involves targeting individuals and companies in order to obtain information or compromise their systems. The pandemic altered the way many businesses operate, especially with the use of collaborative and productivity apps for remote work. As organizations leverage different tools to integrate their workforce, more opportunities for phishing are also created for cybercriminals to exploit. The success rates of well-known and publicized phishing attacks decrease over time. Thus, cybercriminals develop new phishing methods to replace old ones. One of these new tactics is known as consent phishing.

What is Consent Phishing

Consent phishing involves tricking users into granting permissions to malicious apps. It grants access to legitimate cloud service offerings such as Office 365 and Google Cloud apps to cyber attackers.

Consent phishing is an application-based attack. It relies on the existing cloud environment of the target in order to install malicious apps.

While typical phishing involves stealing login credentials or personal information by tricking victims into giving them up. Consent phishing gives hackers direct access to an organizations’ cloud data.

When permission is granted to a malicious app controlled by an attacker they are able to access sensitive and personal data of the victims without the need for further authentication

How Does Consent Phishing Works

Consent phishing attacks are designed to appear legitimate to improve their odds of success.

There attack usually follows the steps described below:

1. Attackers register a rogue app with an OAuth 2.0 cloud provider such as Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud.

2. The app is configured to look trustworthy. This may be done by using the names of reputable companies or their affiliates.

3. A malicious consent phishing link is sent to the potential victim. This can be delivered via email impersonating a legitimate company. Users may also be prompted to install the malicious app from inside another app or on a legitimate website previously compromised by the attacker.

4. If the user clicks the link, they are shown a consent prompt for installation and access permissions for the malicious apps.

5. If the malicious app prompt is accepted, it gets permission to access all the sensitive data on the user’s cloud account.

6. The app is given an authorization code that it can use to redeem an access token to the user’s account.

7. The access token can be used to make API calls as the victim.

8. With this token, the attacker can access and modify the user’s mail, forwarding rules, files, contacts, and other sensitive data.

How Dangerous is Consent Phishing

Consent phishing’s efficiency lies in leveraging legitimate applications to gain persistent access to the victim’s cloud data.

Once access is granted to a malicious app, additional security measures can’t stop the attack. Changing passwords or enabling multi-factor authentication will not affect the access or operations of the malicious app unless its permissions are explicitly revoked.

How to Protect Your Business against Consent Phishing Attack

1. Educate Your Employees
Consent phishing is more successful because many users don’t understand how their cloud environment works.

Your employees should be well trained about the tactics used in consent phishing and the danger it poses to your business so they can protect themselves and the company.

With proper training, employees will be more careful about granting permission to new apps. They would also double-check links and emails in order to block and report consent phishing attempts.

2. Train Admins On Cloud App Policies
While third-party apps are very important for running businesses, there are risks associated with using them. Your cloud service administrator should understand the permissions and consent framework of your chosen cloud provider so they can easily block malicious apps from gaining a foothold.

Admins must also understand how to manage and evaluate permission requests from cloud apps.

3. Audit Installed Apps
Applications installed in your cloud account must be audited on a regular basis. This will help you detect and remove malicious apps as well as those with suspicious permissions.

4. Disallow Installation of Untrusted and Unverified Apps
Your organization can set up policies to only allow the installation of publisher verified apps. You can also create a list of trusted apps that users have permission to install.

This will help prevent the installation of rogue apps in your cloud environment.

5. Deploy Email Authentication Systems
Email is the primary means of delivering consent phishing attacks. Your email system should have filters and authentication protocols that can help block attacks before they get to the user’s inbox.

6. Promote General Anti-Phishing Security Policies
Employees should monitor email for general phishing attempts. This may include checking for spelling and grammar in emails and also taking notes of application names and the domain URLs.

Phishing methodology keeps evolving as attackers look for new ways to beat existing security measures. Follow the tips above to protect your organization from consent phishing attacks.

Consent phishing can threaten any organization and your company must take steps to avoid being an easy target.

Cybersecurity is becoming more complex for SMBs to effectively manage. An MSP can help you create a robust defense system against consent phishing attacks.

Get in touch with SDTEK to discuss your anti-phishing cybersecurity options,

Common IT Security Compliance Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

June 17, 2025
Meeting IT security compliance standards is crucial for businesses that handle sensitive data, particularly in industries such as healthcare, finance, defense, and e-commerce. Regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, CMMC, PCI-DSS, and GDPR exist to help ensure businesses protect customer information and maintain robust cybersecurity practices. Unfortunately, many organizations fall short of these requirements, often due to common, avoidable mistakes. These gaps can result in costly fines, data breaches, and reputational damage, which can significantly impact the business's bottom line and customer trust. 1. Failing to Conduct Regular Risk Assessments The Pitfall: Many businesses overlook the importance of conducting routine risk assessments. Without these, it’s challenging to identify vulnerabilities or evaluate whether your current cybersecurity controls meet compliance standards. How to Avoid It: Implement a regular risk assessment schedule. Work with a qualified IT provider to evaluate your systems, identify weaknesses, and document remediation plans. These assessments should be performed at least annually, or whenever significant changes to the system occur. 2. Inadequate Employee Training The Pitfall: Your employees are your first line of defense—and often your most significant vulnerability. A common compliance issue arises when businesses fail to train staff on cybersecurity best practices or on handling sensitive data appropriately. How to Avoid It: Invest in ongoing cybersecurity awareness training. Ensure employees understand how to recognize phishing emails, create strong passwords, and report any suspicious activity. Training should be updated regularly to reflect current threats and compliance requirements. 3. Improper Data Handling and Storage The Pitfall: Storing sensitive data in unsecured locations, failing to encrypt information, or retaining data longer than necessary are significant compliance risks. These practices are often flagged during audits. How to Avoid It: Adopt data classification policies that define how different types of data should be handled; encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit. Establish clear data retention policies and ensure that obsolete data is disposed of securely. 4. Lack of Incident Response Planning The Pitfall: When a security incident occurs, time is of the essence. Many businesses lack a documented incident response plan, or their existing plan hasn’t been thoroughly tested. This can lead to delayed responses, increased damage, and regulatory penalties. How to Avoid It: Develop a formal incident response plan that includes roles, responsibilities, communication protocols, and steps for containment and recovery. Run simulated breach scenarios with your IT team to ensure everyone knows how to respond effectively. 5. Using Outdated Software or Systems The Pitfall: Running outdated operating systems, software, or firmware is a common issue that can lead to compliance failures. Unsupported technologies are more vulnerable to exploitation. How to Avoid It: Keep all systems and applications up to date with the latest patches. Use automated tools to track software versions and receive alerts about end-of-life technologies. Schedule regular maintenance windows to apply updates and upgrades. 6. Insufficient Access Controls The Pitfall: Allowing too many employees access to sensitive data—or failing to revoke access when it’s no longer needed—can lead to data breaches and non-compliance. How to Avoid It: Implement role-based access controls and follow the principle of least privilege. This principle means that each user should have the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job. Regularly audit user accounts and permissions to ensure access is current and appropriate. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an additional layer of protection. 7. Neglecting Third-Party Vendor Risks The Pitfall: Businesses often overlook the fact that their compliance responsibilities extend to third-party vendors. If a vendor mishandles your data, you could still be held accountable. How to Avoid It: Vet third-party vendors carefully. Ensure they meet the same compliance standards as your business and include security requirements in your contracts. Conduct periodic audits or request compliance certifications from your vendors. 8. Failing to Document Policies and Procedures The Pitfall: Even if your security practices are strong, failing to document your compliance policies can result in audit failures. Regulators want to see evidence that you have formal processes in place. How to Avoid It: Create and maintain clear documentation for all compliance-related policies, including data protection, access control, incident response, and employee training. Make these documents easily accessible for audits and regularly review them to ensure updates are current. Conclusion Compliance with IT security standards is not a one-time project—it requires ongoing attention, regular updates, and a proactive approach to maintain effectiveness. By understanding and addressing these common pitfalls, your business can stay ahead of regulatory requirements, strengthen its security posture, and reduce the risk of costly incidents. This ongoing attention is crucial to maintaining your business's security and audit readiness. If you’re unsure whether your business is meeting current IT compliance standards, professional support can help. Contact SDTEK today to schedule a compliance assessment and learn how our IT services can keep your business secure and audit-ready. With our support, you can navigate the complex landscape of IT security compliance with confidence.

Why Cybersecurity and Business IT Support Are Crucial for Fort Wayne Businesses

April 9, 2025
In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you run a small startup or a growing enterprise in Fort Wayne , protecting your business’s data, systems, and clients is essential for long-term success. From ransomware attacks to phishing scams, cyber threats are evolving every day, and the best way to stay ahead of them is by partnering with a reliable IT services provider that understands the unique needs of local businesses. Here’s why investing in professional business IT support is one of the smartest decisions Fort Wayne businesses can make—and how working with SDTEK helps protect your operations, your data, and your reputation.