The zero-font tactic is a technique employed by cybercriminals in phishing emails to bypass text-based email filters. In a zero-font attack, the attacker hides malicious content or keywords within the email by setting the font size to zero. This makes the text invisible to the recipient but can still be detected by the email filtering system, which typically analyzes the HTML code of the email.
By using this tactic, attackers aim to trick email security systems that rely on text analysis to detect phishing attempts. These systems may not recognize the hidden content, allowing malicious emails to reach the recipient’s inbox.
To the recipient, the email may appear to contain only legitimate and harmless content. However, if they interact with the email, such as clicking on links or downloading attachments, they could unknowingly expose themselves to various threats, such as malware, credential theft, or other forms of cyberattacks.
To protect against phishing attacks, it’s crucial to be cautious when interacting with emails, especially those from unknown or unexpected sources. Users should avoid clicking on suspicious links, downloading attachments from unfamiliar senders, and should verify the legitimacy of the email by checking the sender’s address and scrutinizing the content for any signs of phishing attempts.