“Phishing” attacks are common. An attacker contacts you, pretending to be a friend or a trusted organization, asking for personal information or opening a malicious website or file. Most phishing attempts come via email, but they can also come via text, social media, or phone (what we call “vishing”). These scams can appear in a variety of ways, including the following.
A Reliable Sen
der
The message or phone call will appear to be from someone you know and trust. For example, it could be from your bank, the government, a service like Netflix or Spotify, a technology company like Microsoft, Amazon, or Apple, or another service you’re familiar with. The most daring con artists may attempt to impersonate your boss or a family member.
A Clickable Link or an Attachment
The message will usually include a link to a website or an attached file that you must click on. The website will almost certainly be a spoof of a legitimate website, designed to trick you into entering your password, username, or other personal information. Any file attached is almost certainly malware.
A Last-minute Request
The messages are typically urgent. They may say that a service or an account will be canceled, you’ll have to pay the penalty, or you’ll miss out on a special deal and must act immediately.
The urgency is intended to persuade you to take the message seriously and to act on it without giving it too much thought, consulting a trusted advisor, or investigating whether the news is a forgery.
What Can You Do To Avoid Phishing?
Here at BetterWorld Technology, we encourage you to examine any messages that require you to take immediate action. Follow the tips below to avoid falling for a phishing scam:
Pay attention to the sender’s email address. If the statement claims to be from your bank, but the sender’s address does not match the domain name of your bank, this should be a red flag.
Never open any unexpected links or attachments, even if they appear to come from someone you know.
Launch a new tab in your internet browser and navigate directly to the organization’s website using a saved favorite, a web search, or the domain name. A phishing email link will take you to a fake website that asks for personal information.
Don’t open unexpected attachments. Notify the sender via text message or phone call before opening the attachment.
We also suggest boosting your cybersecurity by using SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge, which can assist in blocking known phishing websites.
Protect yourself and your business from phishing with BetterWorld Technology today!
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