Companies can’t rely solely on firewalls and spam filters to protect against phishing attacks. They also need to encourage healthy skepticism and provide ongoing education.
The best way to train staff to recognize phishing emails is to do periodic simulations. That includes sending fake phishing emails to all staff and monitoring their response.
Never Provide Personal Information
Avoiding giving out personal information in response to an unsolicited request is the most crucial thing you can do to safeguard yourself against phishing attempts. This goes for emails, phone calls, and texts. People are duped into disclosing their information by scammers utilizing several strategies, such as invoking fear and urgency. Reputable companies will never ask for passwords, account numbers, or other personal information via email or text. Contact the business directly by going to their website or calling their customer service number if you get an email asking for this information.
It’s also a good idea to never click on links that appear in emails and instant messages, regardless of their source. A simple hover over the link will usually reveal its actual destination, as most phishing websites are designed to look similar to legitimate ones. In addition, you should permanently close pop-ups by clicking the X in one of the corners.
For businesses, the best way to prevent phishing attacks is to educate employees and teach them how to recognize a phishing attack. Training should include security awareness education, and frequent training sessions should be held to refresh employee vigilance.
Never Click on Links or Open Attachments
Cybercriminals can try to trick recipients by sending them an attachment or a link that leads to a website masquerading as something legitimate. These sites are designed to infect computers with malware or to steal login and password information. Unfortunately, all it takes for fraudsters to obtain access is for one individual to click a fraudulent link or give their login information.
The best way to prevent a phishing attack is never to open attachments or click on links, even if the sender is someone you know and trust. Deleting unsolicited spam messages without responding is essential, as doing so confirms your email address to the spammer and can escalate the phishing attack. It is best to retype the Web address into a browser rather than clicking on a hyperlink in an email.
It is also a good idea to keep your browser up to date. Security patches and updates are released for popular browsers all the time to close security loopholes that phishers and hackers will inevitably find and exploit. It is also wise to use a desktop or network firewall.
Pop-up windows are notorious for being a component of phishing attacks and can often contain malware or link to phishing sites. Using ad-blocking software and avoiding clicking “Close” buttons in the corners of the pop-up window is an excellent way to prevent these types of infections.
Be Suspicious of Emails
Generally speaking, employees should be wary of any message that requests personal information such as login credentials or payment information. They should also be cautious of messages that try to incite fear. For example, if an email states that their account will be suspended if they don’t respond promptly, this is often a sign of phishing.
Employees should be taught to watch for red flags like misspelled words, bad grammar, or a unique URL. They should also be aware that phishers often use fake email addresses and company logos to make their messages seem more legitimate. In addition to emails, phishers may use phone calls (known as “vishing”), fraudulent text messages (“smishing”), and even social media messaging to conduct their attacks.
In the past, phishers have often sent their attacks through email. Still, with the rise of mobile messaging services, attackers can now distribute malware or phishing links via these platforms. For this reason, individuals and businesses need to use a comprehensive digital security solution that can help prevent phishing attacks from being carried out through these channels. This includes using an ad-blocker and blocking many phishing attempts before reaching your browser. Additionally, a high-quality firewall can act as a protective barrier between your computer and outside intruders.
Keep Your Passwords Secure
A successful phishing attack can lead to identity theft, financial loss, and severe consequences. Fraudsters will often impersonate someone they’re not to trick you into giving them your passwords or other personal information, and they’ll use various techniques. This includes emails, phone calls (known as vishing), text messages (smishing), and social media.
Never give anyone your passwords, PINs, or two-factor authentication (2FA) codes. These should only be provided to legitimate services you trust, and even then, they should be protected with strong passwords. Passwords should be at least six characters long and include upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. Also, never reuse passwords across accounts. The more information about you that hackers can access, the more phishing attacks they will try to launch against you.
For businesses, IT managers should train their employees always to check the authenticity of email attachments and links, especially those containing shared documents or file-sharing platforms. It’s also essential to ensure all browsers are up to date, as cybercriminals will take advantage of any vulnerabilities found in outdated versions. Additionally, IT managers should establish a policy to quickly report suspicious activity and ensure employees understand who is responsible for acting upon it. Finally, all staff should be trained to avoid clicking cancel buttons in pop-ups, which can often redirect you to a phishing site.