A recent report from Check Point Research revealed a shocking statistic: the Microsoft-owned business platform LinkedIn is impersonated in nearly half of all phishing attacks globally.

The Threat Landscape on LinkedIn

One common tactic scammers use is targeting individuals seeking new job opportunities. Emails like “You have 1 new invitation” or “Your profile has been viewed by 63 people” can appear authentic but must be scrutinized. Always verify the sender’s email address to ensure it’s genuinely from LinkedIn. Impersonators send emails that look identical to real ones, with links to fake LinkedIn pages designed to steal your information once you enter it.

Another tactic involves cybercriminals creating fake profiles to message users about job opportunities. Once engaged, they may ask for an upfront payment to process your application (which you’ll never see again) or direct you to a form that is actually a phishing link in disguise.

LinkedIn’s Security Features

LinkedIn is aware of these issues and is developing advanced security features to protect its users. Here are four current security features you should use:

1. Suspicious Message Warnings: LinkedIn’s technology can detect messages that attempt to take you off the platform or are potentially inappropriate, sending you a warning notification.
2. Profile Verification: This feature allows you to verify your profile’s authenticity by submitting an additional form of ID, earning a verification badge on your profile. This badge helps others know you are who you say you are, making it harder for scammers who frequently shut down fake profiles to stay hidden.
3. Profile Information: This feature helps you assess the credibility of a person’s profile before responding to messages, accepting connection requests, or trusting offers. By clicking “More” on a profile and selecting “About this profile,” you can see details such as:
   • When the profile was created
   • When it was last updated
   • Whether the member has verified a phone number
   • Whether the member has a work email associated with their account
4. AI-Generated Profile Picture Detection: Scammers use AI to generate realistic profile pictures for fake profiles. LinkedIn’s research showed users generally couldn’t distinguish between real and synthetically generated faces. To combat this, LinkedIn partnered with academia to develop and deploy advanced detection features that identify and shut down profiles using AI-generated images before they cause harm.

Stay Secure on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is an excellent resource for finding jobs, employees, and clients, but it’s important to stay secure. LinkedIn’s security features are just the first line of defense. If someone in your organization falls for a scam and clicks a malicious link, would your internal security solutions be robust enough to protect your network?

We can help you find out. We offer a FREE Security Risk Assessment to help you determine if your network is vulnerable to any type of attack. To book yours, call us at 214-550-0550 or click here to book now.