Lateral Phishing
Phishing attacks originating from a compromised internal email account targeting other employees within the same organization.
Overview
Once attackers compromise a single employee's inbox, they use it to launch 'Lateral Phishing' attacks against colleagues or the executive team. Because the email comes from a legitimate internal account and passes through the corporate network, traditional perimeter Secure Email Gateways (SEGs) completely ignore it (East-West traffic). PhiShark enforces a true Zero Trust environment by applying its Agentic AI validation to internal communications as well, instantly detecting behavioral anomalies, unusual requests, and malicious links sent between coworkers.
Real-World Examples
- ▸A compromised HR account asking employees to update direct deposit info via a malicious link
- ▸Internal malware distribution through trusted corporate SharePoint documents
- ▸Bypassing perimeter security entirely by attacking from the inside
Related Terms
Protect Against Lateral Phishing
PhiShark's agentic AI detects and analyzes threats in real-time
Start Free Trial