How to Protect Yourself from Phishing Attacks
Phishing
Cyber attacks happen a lot more than many people would like to think. If you don’t have the proper protection or know what to look for to prevent an attack, you are putting yourself at risk. there are a few different ways you can protect yourself from phishing attacks.
What Is Phishing?
Phishing is a technique hackers use to get you to reveal personal information, such as your passwords and login credentials to online banking and other accounts you may have. People who use phishing techniques want to gain as much information about you as possible. Hackers often send fraudulent emails posing as a legitimate company. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so you need to know how to deal with phishing attacks and other cyber attacks.
Always Stay Informed
Phishing cyber attack techniques are constantly changing, and one of the best ways for you to be prepared is to stay informed. Conduct research at least twice each month on the latest phishing techniques and other cyber attack tactics. The more you know, the less likely you are to become a target for these attacks.
Pay Close Attention
Paying close attention to the websites you visit is a good way to prevent cyber attacks and avoid phishing emails. There are many different types of software available that tells you if a site is safe or not. Sometimes there are specific pages of a website that are unsafe. When you encounter these types of pages, you will receive a message on your screen telling you the particular page of a website you’re trying to access is unsafe, and you will be given the option to return to a safe page. Phishing emails are ones that are very vague and indirect. Always check the sender’s email. A lot of the time, fraudulent emails include the word “spoof” or other words that would not be used in a legitimate company email.
Don’t Second Guess Yourself
How many times have you done something that at first hesitate to do, and end up paying the consequences? Cyber attacks, including phishing, are on the rise due to people second-guessing themselves. If your conscience or gut is telling you something is not right or out of place, listen. 9 times out of 10, your gut feeling is right. Clicking on just one unsafe link can lead to identity theft and thousands of dollars in expenses trying to regain your identity. If an email or website looks suspicious, don’t leave anything to chance. There are web checker tools available that scan every site before loading it. This website scan determines if the content on the site should be blocked.
Lock Cell Phone and Computers
When you’re away from your computer, lock it. It’s one of the best ways to prevent unwanted use of your computer. You can lock your cell phone so no one but you or the people you choose have access to your phone. Some cell phones allow you to use fingerprint technology to lock your phone. With fingerprint technology, you use your unique fingerprint to unlock your phone.
Home Security Concepts is all about keeping families safe. Phishing attacks can have horrific, undesired results. The good news in this situation is there are different steps you can take to make sure you or people in your home do not fall victim to phishing attacks. Contact us today to learn more about how you can keep your family safe.
