Clicked on a Phishing Email? Here is what to do next…

It happens more often than most businesses think. One click on what looks like a perfectly normal email can open the door to a much bigger problem for your business. And when it does, the first reaction is almost certainly going to panic.  

Here is the truth. You are not the first person this has happened to, and you will not be the last. Phishing emails have become detailed enough to fool experienced, careful employees every single day. Attackers design them to look real because that is exactly what works. 

The good news is this. What you do next matters far more than the click itself. Speed and the right steps can mean the difference between a minor scare and a serious breach. So instead of focusing on the mistake, let’s focus on the fix. 

Before you do anything else, take a breath. Not every click results in a breach. The level of risk depends on what happened after you clicked the phishing link. 

Just opened the email: Low risk. Opening an email without clicking anything inside it rarely causes harm on its own. 

Clicked a link inside the email: Moderate risk. The site you landed on may have attempted to collect information or install something on your device. 

Entered your login credentials: High risk. If you entered login credentials on a page that opened after clicking, that information may now be in the wrong hands. 

Opened a malicious email attachment or downloaded a file: High risk. Downloaded files can carry malware that begins working quietly in the background. 

This is where your response makes all the difference. Move through these steps as quickly as you can. Every minute matters. 

1. Disconnect your device from the Network 

Turn off your WiFi or unplug your Ethernet cable immediately. This cuts off any connection between your device and a potential attacker. Think of it as closing the door before anything else can get through. Do this before you do anything else. 

2. Do Not Enter Any More Information 

If a page opened after you clicked the link, close it without entering anything. Do not log in, fill out a form, or try to navigate the page. And do not try to fix the problem yourself. Every additional action on a suspicious page increases the risk and can make it harder for your IT team to assess what happened. 

3. Report It to Your IT Team Immediately 

This is the step most people delay because they are embarrassed or worried about getting in trouble. Do not wait. Report the phishing email to IT right away. When you do, include a screenshot of the email, when you clicked, and a clear description of what actions you took. The faster your IT team knows, the faster they can manage and prevent disaster.  

4. Change Your Passwords After Phishing 

Once your IT team gives you the go ahead, update your passwords right away. Start with your email account, then your Microsoft 365 or Google account, and then any other account where you reuse the same password. Reused passwords are one of the biggest risks after a phishing incident because one stolen credential can unlock multiple accounts. While right now is probably not the best time, in the future a password manager can be a huge asset in changing and then creating unique passwords.  

5. Let IT Run a Security Scan 

Your IT team or managed provider will run a proper security scan on your device. DO NOT download tools or run scans on your own unless you are specifically instructed to do so. A scan done correctly by a professional is far more effective and avoids introducing new problems, which can come with downloading the wrong software.  

Here is something that surprises a lot of business owners. Once an attacker gains access to one account or device, they can move through a network quickly. Security professionals call this lateral movement. It is how a single phishing click turns into a company-wide problem. 

Acting fast shrinks the window of opportunity. Quick containment stops attackers from spreading further into your systems, protects sensitive customer and business data, keeps downtime to a minimum, and significantly reduces the financial risk that comes with a full-scale breach. 

Prevention is always the first goal, but containment is the next best thing. Teams that know what to do and move quickly are far better positioned than those that hesitate or handle it informally. 

The best time to prepare for a phishing attack is before one happens. These are the most effective steps businesses can take to protect themselves. 

Never Log in Through Email Links 

One of the easiest ways to avoid a large phishing attack is to never log in to accounts through links in an email, even if the message & log-in portal looks legitimate. Instead, go directly to the website by typing the address into your browser or using a saved bookmark. This ensures you are on the correct site and not a fake login page designed to capture your information. Just being aware of this type of phishing scam can help prevent one of the biggest ways that attackers can gain access to your valuable information. 

Employee Awareness Training 

Most phishing attacks succeed simply because employees do not recognize them. Regular training that uses real-world examples helps your team spot warning signs before they click. Simulated phishing exercises are especially effective because they build muscle memory in a safe environment. When your people know what to look for, your whole organization becomes harder to fool. 

Email Security Tools That Go Beyond Basic Filters 

Basic spam filters are not enough for today’s threats. Advanced email security tools scan links before they open, flag suspicious senders automatically, and test attachments in an isolated environment before they ever reach your inbox. This kind of email security for small business and mid-sized organizations can stop a large percentage of phishing attempts before anyone even sees them. 

Multi-Factor Authentication 

Multi-factor authentication is one of the strongest layers of protection you can add to your accounts. Even if an attacker gets hold of a password, they cannot get past the second verification step. Enabling MFA across your business accounts is one of the simplest changes you can make with one of the highest returns. If you have not done this yet, it should be your next step. 

A Clear Process for What to Do When a Breach Happens 

One of the most overlooked parts of phishing protection is building a reporting culture. Employees need to know that if they click something suspicious, the right move is to report it immediately and that they will not be punished for doing so. The businesses that recover fastest are the ones where people feel safe speaking up quickly. Build that environment and your whole team becomes part of your defense. 

Phishing threats are not slowing down, and the tactics keep getting more convincing. If your business is relying on outdated tools or hoping employees will catch everything on their own, there is a smarter way forward. 

The right IT partner puts the right training, tools, and response processes in place so that if something does get through, your team knows exactly what to do and can move fast. 

If you would like to talk through where your business stands, we are happy to have that conversation. Contact the MMIT team today! No pressure. Just practical guidance from a team that does this every day.