How to Avoid the Phisherman's Net
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Remember: technology isn’t perfect. There’s no infallible solution able to prevent all attacks. Part of the responsibility falls on the user – you – to know when to be suspicious, and to know how to protect yourself.
The first thing to know about phishing? If it smells “phishy,” there’s a good chance it is. Trust your nose. If you’re not sure, look for advice – don’t be afraid to approach your IT security expert. And yes, you can mark phishing emails as spam and ignore them, but it can be helpful to IT security to see new messages and help raise awareness to your colleagues that such a message is making the rounds.
Browser-based exploits (suspicious websites) are still pretty common, also. Even a semi-secure system can be compromised by visiting the wrong website. It’s always safer to just not click on a link if you’re suspicious. And be aware that it’s not just email you’ll need to watch out for. Thieves make use of instant messenger programs, texts, and even plain old telephone calls to try to gain access to your private information.
Telltale signs of phishing
There’s an infinite variety of phishing emails out there, in all shapes and sizes, but fortunately there are some “tells” you can look for to help figure out potential scams.
It just doesn’t look right.
Generic salutations
Links to official looking sites
Unexpected E-Mails
Asking to take quick action
You are the First Line of Defense
You are your own first line of defense against phishing. Arm yourself by knowing the signs and acting with caution. By educating yourself, you’ll be able to avoid falling victim to a phishing scheme – and putting your personal data, or that of your organization, at risk.
