Phishing attacks are one of the most common security challenges faced by both individuals  and businesses when it comes to protecting information. Hackers use email, social media,  phone calls, and all forms of communication to steal valuable data, even when accessing  passwords, credit cards, or other sensitive information. Of course, companies are a valuable  target.  


Across the Web, phishing attacks have tricked unprotected victims into giving up banking information, social security numbers, and more. In addition, cybercriminals are disguised and smarter. Scammers can hide behind voices you know and trust, such as colleagues, banks, and governments. Clicking one link can make you the next victim of a scammer. 

As we will be diving into ways to avoid phishing attacks, let's first discuss phishing. 

What is Phishing? 

Phishing is an act by fraudsters. They take actions that give them access to your devices, accounts, or personal information, by impersonating a trusted person or organization; through this act, you are more likely to be infected with malware or hijack your credit card  information.  

In other words, these social engineering programs "feed" you to trust them so they can get valuable information from you. It can be anything from social media logins to the ID through your Social Security number.  

On these systems, you may be required to open an attachment, follow a link, fill out a form,  or reply with personal information. This logic requires constant attention, which can be  exhausting. 


No one wants to be a victim of phishing scams. However, there are good reasons for such scams to continue, though. Cybercriminals have been successful enough to generate huge profits. Phishing scams have been around since the dawn of the Internet and will not go away anytime soon.  

Fortunately, there are ways to avoid sacrificing yourself. So, here are some basic guidelines  for protecting yourself: 


1. Think Before You Click: If you are on a trusted site, you can click the link. However, clicking the links that appear in random emails and instant messages isn't  advisable. Hover over a link you don't understand before clicking. Are they leading  where they should be? Phishing emails can be pretended to be from a legitimate  company, and clicking on a website link can make it look exactly like a real website.  

You may be asked to enter information by email, but the email may not contain your  name. Most phishing emails start with "Dear Customer", so be careful if you encounter these emails. If not sure, go directly to the source instead of clicking on a  dangerous link. 


2. Check your Online Account Regularly: If you haven't accessed your online account for a while, someone may be having a great day with it. So, you should check in regularly with each online account, even if it's not technically necessary. Also, get in the habit of changing your password regularly.  

To prevent bank phishing and credit card phishing scams, you should check your bank statement directly regularly. You will receive a monthly statement for your financial account, so carefully review each entry to make sure there are no fraudulent transactions without your knowledge. 


3. Use a Firewall-A high-quality firewall acts as a buffer between users, computers, and external intruders. You may need to use two different types of firewalls: desktop  firewalls and network firewalls.  

The first option is software and the second option is hardware. Using these two together reduces the chances of hackers and phishers breaking into your computer or network. 


4. Keep Your Browser Up To Date: Security patches for major browsers are constantly being released. These are released in response to vulnerabilities that phishers and other hackers inevitably discover and exploit. So, if you are the type that ignores messages about browser updates, stop it! You should always download  and install the update as it becomes available. 


5. Beware Of Pop-Ups: Pop-up windows often impersonate a legitimate component of your website. However, these are often phishing attempts. Pop-ups can be blocked in many popular browsers. You can allow it on a case-by-case basis. If you  slip through the grid, don't click the cancel button. Buttons like this often lead to  phishing sites. Instead, click the small "x" in the top corner of the window. 


6. Use Antivirus Software: There are many reasons to use antivirus software. Firstly, special signatures added in antivirus software protect against known technical workarounds and loopholes. Make sure your software is up to date. As scams are constantly being invented, new definitions are constantly being added. 

Therefore, Anti-spyware and firewall settings should be used to prevent phishing attacks, and users should update their programs regularly. Firewall protection prevents access to malicious files by blocking the attacks. Antivirus software scans every file which comes through the Internet to your computer. It helps to prevent your system from getting damaged.


7. Stay Up To Date on Phishing Techniques: New phishing scams are constantly being developed. It is possible to accidentally fall into one of them without keeping  these new phishing techniques up to date. Watch out for news about new phishing  scams. The risk of getting caught is much lower, If you find them as soon as  possible. For IT managers and users to keep security a top priority for the entire  organization, continuous security awareness training and simulated phishing are  highly recommended 

 

Final Thoughts 

Having read the above article, you shouldn't be afraid of phishing scams anymore. If you follow the tips above, you should be able to enjoy your online experience with confidence. However, you should know that there is no absolute surefire way to avoid a phishing attack. 


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