What is phishing and how to avoid it

Published 10/10/2021 by Ingenuity & Solutions in Cybersecurity

What is phishing and how to avoid it

The technological revolution and the massive Internet use have allowed easy and immediate access to information, connecting millions of people worldwide. Nevertheless, some threats have shown up, such as cybercrimes and engineering attacks.

Phishing is a way of committing cybercrime. Using this method, criminals send emails that appear to come from reliable sources such as banks, energy companies, etc. Still, they try to manipulate the user to steal confidential information. That is why it is always advisable to access web pages by typing the address directly in the browser.

Phishing is a social engineering computer attack that uses digital media, such as email to deceive and scam people. Emotional manipulation techniques generate trust in people to be able to steal their information and money.

The goal of phishing is to trick people into obtaining confidential data, such as passwords and banking information. This cybercrime is developed through fake messages, emails, or phone calls and the scammer uses a false identity to obtain the information he needs and commit crimes like stealing money in bank accounts.

How to identify phishing?

Recognizing a phishing attempt is not always straightforward, but a few tips, a little discipline, and some common sense can help you. Look for something rare or unusual. Ask yourself if the message arouses any suspicions. Trust your intuition, but do not get carried away by fear. Phishing attacks often use fear to cloud your reasoning.

Here we show you some more signs of a phishing attempt:

  • The email offers something too good to be real. You could say that you have won the lottery, an expensive prize, or something else of very high value.

  • The message sounds scary. Be careful if the email uses alarmist language to create a sense of urgency, urging you to click and "act now" before your account is deleted. Remember, responsible organizations do not request personal details or information this way.

  • The message contains unexpected or strange attachments. These attachments may contain malware, ransomware, or some other online threat.

  • The message contains links that seem a bit strange. Even if you do not feel tingly for any of the above points, do not assume that the included hyperlinks lead where it seems. Instead, hover over the link to see the actual URL. It is always better to directly type the URL instead of clicking the embedded link.

Tips to protect yourself from phishing

No one is safe from being a victim of phishing. For this reason, here we share with you some tips to protect yourself from this cyber-crime:

  • After reading the email, do not click on any link. Make the proper verifications in your personal client space, going directly from the browser's URL.

  • It will help if you improve the security of your computer. Common sense and good judgment are as vital as keeping your computer protected, but in addition, you should always have the most recent updates to your operating system and web browser. In addition, the idea is that you have an additional layer with a professional antivirus.

  • Enter your confidential details only on secure websites. For a site to be considered 'secure,' the first step - although not the only one - is that it begins with "https: //", which implies that it follows the hypertext transfer protocol and that the browser displays the icon of a closed padlock.

  • Periodically review your accounts. It never hurts to check bills and bank accounts every so often to be aware of any irregular transactions.

  • If you have any doubt, do not risk it. The best advice against phishing is always to promote prudence among all the organization's people. Ensuring the authenticity of content at the slightest suspicion is the best policy.

We hope that this article helps you to avoid suffering phishing. If you are interested in more content, visit our website.

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