Phishing & Spam: Security and Branding

Fake emails, suspicious messages, and phishing attacks are everywhere. No brand is completely immune. In fact, two of our clients recently received emails pretending to be from Estudio CKS. Luckily, they acted fast and checked with us before clicking.

Even though the attempt was clumsy, it’s a good reminder of something important: digital security isn’t just a technical issue — it’s an essential part of brand communication.

What Is Phishing (and Why Everyone Should Know About It)

Phishing is a form of digital fraud in which attackers impersonate trusted entities — such as banks, platforms, or companies — to trick people into giving away confidential information like passwords, banking details, or account access.

These messages often look legitimate and use psychological tactics like urgency (“your account will be suspended”) or fear (“unauthorized login detected” or “we must update your website system to avoid vulnerability”) to trigger immediate action.

Once the victim clicks on a link, that’s where the real problem begins: they might open a malicious attachment, be redirected to a fake site asking for data, or worse, download malware that infects their device.

(Example: a fake email impersonating Estudio CKS received by some of our clients.)

How to Recognize a Phishing Attempt

Common examples we’ve all likely seen:

• An email that appears to be from your bank or a known platform asking you to “verify your account.”

• A message from “technical support” requesting remote access or login credentials.

• A suspicious invoice or link that, once opened, installs malware.

Behind these tactics lies something even more serious than the loss of data: the loss of trust.A single fake email using your brand’s name or logo can damage a reputation that took years to build.

How to Protect Your Brand (and Your Customers)

1. Use Verified Domains and Senders

All official communications should come from an email address linked to your domain (for example, contacto@yourbrand.com).Also, enabling authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC helps prevent third parties from sending emails in your name.

This not only protects your data — it also sends a clear signal of professionalism and trust to your customers.

2. Educate Your Team and Community

If your clients know your communication style — tone, design, official addresses — they’ll more easily recognize a fraud attempt.

You can add clear disclaimers to your emails, such as:

“We will never ask for passwords via email.”“Our emails always come from our official address.”

Visual and verbal consistency is also security: a brand that communicates clearly is a brand that protects better.

3. Keep Your Website Secure

Your website can also become an entry point.Activating reCAPTCHA verification on forms is the first step. Today, tools like Wix Functions allow you to add custom validations that block suspicious or automated messages.

For example, if you receive forms containing irrelevant keywords like “Wix” or “SEO” in unrelated contexts, you can filter them automatically.

4. Block Suspicious IPs or Regions

If you detect recurring spam from certain locations, you can block those IPs or regions from your site.Some studios and agencies, for example, after repeated phishing attempts from specific countries, choose to limit access from those regions since they’re not part of their target market.

It’s not about closing doors — it’s about protecting your communication channels and avoiding malicious traffic.

5. Use Trusted Filtering Tools

Services like Google Workspace or Outlook include advanced filters that detect suspicious emails before they reach your main inbox. You can also configure rules so that messages with attachments or external links are reviewed before being opened.

Within your email options, you’ll usually find a “Report Phishing” button — use it whenever something feels off.

How to Spot a Fake Email (as a User)

Beyond technical measures, there are simple habits that help you avoid traps:

• Check links carefully: hover over them before clicking — real addresses often differ slightly (e.g., estudio-cks.net instead of estudiocks.com.ar).

• Be wary of urgency: if a message demands immediate action or threatens account blocks, that’s a red flag.

• Keep systems updated: maintaining your CMS, plugins, and tools up to date reduces vulnerabilities.

• Verify the source: if in doubt, contact the company or sender directly through official channels.

In Conclusion

In a world where digital fraud grows more sophisticated every day, trust is the most valuable asset a brand can build.Protecting your communication channels doesn’t just prevent risks — it also strengthens your relationship with your community.

A clear, verified, and secure email is worth more than a thousand automated messages.

At Estudio CKS, we work under this principle: trustworthy communication is something you design.If you’d like to review your website’s security or strengthen your brand communication from a trustworthy perspective, get in touch with us.