How do I create a test phishing campaign?

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This article will explain how to create a test phishing campaign, which is used to ensure that all settings are correct and that emails are delivered smoothly.

Note: If you are looking to send your first live campaign to real recipients (Baseline Test), see this article

 

Prerequisite - Choose (more than one) template

For an accurate test, we recommend running at least two test campaigns: one from an external email address and one from an internal (spoofed) address.

You can also combine this with checking plain text emails, such as CEO fraud templates, versus HTML-rich templates containing many images to ensure both email styles arrive unhindered.

Before you move onto Creating the test campaign, make a note of which templates you would like to use in each test by browsing Phishing Tackle's extensive collection of simulated phishing email templates:

Creating_a_Test_Phishing_Campaign_0.1.png

Once you have chosen your templates, it's time to send your tests. Simply repeat the process below for each test performed.

 

Creating the test campaign

  1. Click "Campaigns" under "PHISHING" on the main menu.
  2. Click "CREATE NEW CAMPAIGN".
    Creating_a_Test_Phishing_Campaign_-_1-2.png
  3. Give it a simple name, e.g. Delivery Test, and leave the Tag blank.

    Creating a test phishing campaign - Step 3 Campaign description.png
  4. Select a Tag associated with only 1 recipient (or a very small group).
    • NOTE: Ensure to specify the relevant delivery method, this can be set to a default value within the Organisation settings (Organisation > Settings > Email Campaigns).
      Creating a test phishing campaign - Step 4 Recipient Tag.png

  5. Choose a date/time and Time Zone to start the Campaign.
    • All Campaigns will default to the current time and the Time Zone set within the organisation settings.
  6. Select Send all emails now (this is referring to whatever date/time you set above).
  7. Leave blank the exclusion Date Tags box.
  8. Select Never to repeat the emails.
    Creating a test phishing campaign - Step 5 Scheduling Details.png

  9. Check the box "Would you like to track the user replies to phishing emails", ensuring to specify a Custom Reply-to Address underneath. We'd also recommend checking the box "Would you like to keep any replies sent back from your recipients for later review". 
    • Doing the above will allow you to test that replies to your simulated emails are correctly tracked and stored in the platform.

      Creating a test phishing campaign - Step 9 Campaign Tracking.png

  10. Select the specific email you decided on at the beginning of this guide, so you and/or your team know what to look out for (leave all other settings default).Creating a test phishing campaign - Step 10 Email selection.png

  11. Click on 'Step 7 Summary'. Review the Campaign Summary to ensure that you are satisfied with all the parameters. If necessary, go back and make any changes.

  12.  Hit SAVE.
    Creating a test phishing campaign - Step 11 Campaign summary.png

NOTE: Once a phishing campaign status is "Started" the phishing campaign cannot be edited.

After the status of the campaign has changed from Waiting to Started and the DELIVERED column has populated, confirm with your team that the emails have been received.

 

Please let us know if you require any further assistance, you can contact our support team by clicking here. Or by sending an email to support@phishingtackle.com

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