What is phishing and how to protect yourself from it?
Phishing is a type of cyberattack that aims to trick people into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal details. Phishing attackers often pretend to be someone trustworthy, such as a reputable company, a colleague, or a friend, and use various methods to contact their targets, such as email, phone, or text message.
Phishing is one of the most common and dangerous threats on the internet, as it can lead to identity theft, financial loss, or malware infection. According to a report by Verizon, phishing was involved in 22% of data breaches in 2020.
How does phishing work?
Phishing works by exploiting human psychology and emotions, such as curiosity, fear, urgency, or greed. Phishing attackers use different tactics to persuade their victims to click on a malicious link, open a harmful attachment, or provide sensitive information. Some of the common features of phishing messages are:
- Too good to be true: Phishing messages may offer lucrative deals, prizes, or rewards that are hard to resist. For example, you may receive an email that claims you have won an iPhone, a lottery, or a free trip. However, these offers are usually fake and designed to lure you into a trap.
- Sense of urgency: Phishing messages may create a sense of urgency or pressure to act quickly. For example, you may receive an email that warns you that your account will be suspended, your order will be canceled, or your payment will be declined unless you update your details immediately. However, these messages are usually false and intended to make you panic and act without thinking.
- Hyperlinks: Phishing messages may contain links that look legitimate but actually direct you to malicious websites. For example, you may receive an email that appears to be from your bank or your online service provider and asks you to verify your account or reset your password by clicking on a link. However, the link may take you to a fake website that looks identical to the real one but steals your login credentials or other information.
- Attachments: Phishing messages may include attachments that contain malware or viruses. For example, you may receive an email that claims to have an important document, a resume, or a bank statement attached and asks you to open it. However, the attachment may infect your device with ransomware or other malicious software.
- Unusual sender: Phishing messages may come from an unusual or unexpected sender. For example, you may receive an email that looks like it’s from someone you know or trust but actually comes from a spoofed or hacked account. Alternatively, you may receive an email that has spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, or strange formatting that indicate it’s not from a legitimate source.
How to prevent phishing attacks?
Phishing attacks can be hard to spot and avoid, but there are some things you can do to protect yourself and your organization from them:
- Be skeptical: Don’t trust everything you see or read online. Always verify the identity and authenticity of the sender before opening any message or clicking on any link. If something seems suspicious, unusual, or too good to be true, it probably is.
- Be cautious: Don’t click on any links or open any attachments unless you are sure they are safe and relevant. Hover over the link to see the actual URL and check if it matches the expected domain. Scan the attachment with an antivirus software before opening it.
- Be informed: Keep yourself updated on the latest phishing trends and techniques. Learn how to recognize and report phishing messages. Educate yourself and others on how to stay safe online.
- Be secure: Use strong and unique passwords for your online accounts and change them regularly. Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. Use a reputable antivirus software and keep it updated. Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks or devices for accessing sensitive information.
Phishing is a serious threat that can compromise your personal and professional data. By following these tips and being vigilant, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to phishing attacks and protect yourself from cybercriminals.
