Cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated — and now, even trusted names like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are being used in phishing campaigns. Recently, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an urgent warning about a fake DHS phishing email that’s tricking users into downloading malware through malicious attachments disguised as legitimate alerts.
This isn’t just another spam message. These emails appear to come from the National Cyber Awareness System (NCAS), complete with spoofed addresses and official-looking language. However, they contain dangerous attachments that can compromise your systems and put your organization at risk.
So, how can you and your team avoid falling for a fake DHS phishing email? Let’s break it down.
What Is a Phishing Attack?
Phishing is a type of cyberattack where malicious actors pose as trustworthy entities, like banks, government agencies, or even coworkers, to trick individuals into sharing personal information or clicking on harmful links.
Often delivered through email, these attacks may:
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Pretend there’s an issue with your account
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Request login credentials or sensitive data
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Include infected attachments or links to malware
A fake DHS phishing email is a classic example. It uses fear and urgency (e.g., a supposed security alert) to push recipients to act before thinking. And once someone clicks the attachment or link? The malware is deployed silently and quickly.
Why Are Email Attachments So Dangerous?
While attachments are a useful business tool, they’re also one of the most exploited vectors for cyberattacks. Here’s why:
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Wide circulation: Emails are easy to forward, allowing viruses to spread rapidly.
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Automatic trust: Most people trust emails from known contacts, which attackers often spoof.
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File flexibility: Email platforms support many file types, giving hackers a variety of ways to hide malware.
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Auto-download features: Some email clients automatically download attachments, which can immediately expose your device to threats.
How to Spot and Avoid a Fake DHS Phishing Email
To protect your business from these evolving threats, educate your employees and follow these key steps:
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Be skeptical of unsolicited emails, especially those urging urgent action or containing unexpected attachments—even if the sender appears legitimate.
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Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments unless you can verify the sender through an independent source (e.g., official websites or your IT team).
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Remember: CISA will never send NCAS notifications with attachments.
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Check email addresses and URLs carefully—phishing emails often use subtle misspellings or variations in domain names (like .net instead of .gov).
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Report suspicious emails immediately to your IT or helpdesk team.
Don’t Fall for Common Phishing Triggers
Attackers often exploit current events or emotional triggers to increase the likelihood of success. Be extra cautious during:
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Natural disasters (e.g., hurricane relief scams)
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Public health emergencies (e.g., pandemic-related updates)
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Tax season or major financial deadlines
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Elections or government-related news
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Holidays and travel seasons
In these situations, even savvy users can drop their guard, especially when attackers pose as reputable organizations like DHS.
Go Beyond Basics: Implement New-School Security Awareness Training
Avoiding a fake DHS phishing email takes more than common sense. It takes consistent, modern training that equips your team with the skills to recognize and stop phishing in its tracks.
That’s where New-School Security Awareness Training comes in.
What Makes It Different?
Unlike outdated annual training modules, New-School Security Awareness Training is:
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Continuous: Frequent training keeps security top of mind.
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Interactive: Engaging videos, games, and quizzes make learning stick.
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Data-driven: Simulated phishing tests reveal who’s most at risk.
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Actionable: Reports and dashboards show progress and pinpoint gaps.
You get access to the world’s largest library of cybersecurity training content, plus automated campaigns, reminders, and even gamification to boost engagement.
With New-School Security Awareness Training, You Can:
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Run simulated phishing attacks to test your team’s readiness
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Track the “phish-prone” percentage of your employees over time
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Automatically enroll employees who fail tests into targeted refresher training
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Use USB drop tests to assess physical security awareness
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Deploy baseline assessments to measure improvement from day one
Don’t Wait for a Breach — Train Now
Cyber threats like the fake DHS phishing email are evolving rapidly. If your team isn’t trained to recognize these dangers, your business is exposed.
Let us help you roll out a training program that builds confidence and security awareness across your organization. Whether you have 50 users or 5,000, New-School Security Awareness Training is scalable, effective, and proven to reduce phishing risk.
Ready to protect your business from the next phishing scam?
Contact us today to learn how you can start training smarter — and safer.
