Phishing

What is Phishing?

Phishing is when someone tries to trick you into giving them your personal information, like your passwords or credit card details. They do this by pretending to be someone you know and trust, like a bank, a store, or a friend.

 

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Examples:

  • You might get an email or text that looks like it’s from your bank, asking you to urgently click a link and log in. But when you click the link, it actually takes you to a fake website that looks like the real one. If you type your password there, the bad people get your information.
  • You might receive an email or text saying you’ve won a prize and asking you to click a link to claim it. Be careful do not click on it!—clicking on a fake link can infect your computer with a virus!

Signs of a Phishing Email

  • Strange Email Address: The email may look like it’s from a trusted company, but the address might have small mistakes or extra letters. For example, “[email protected]” instead of “[email protected]”.
  • Urgent or Scary Messages: Phishing emails often say something like “Your account will be locked in 24 hours!” to make you panic and click a link right away.
  • Suspicious Links or Attachments: If you see a link or an attachment you weren’t expecting, don’t click it! The link might take you to a fake website.
  • Asking for Personal Information: Legit companies will never ask you for sensitive details like your password or bank number in an email.
  • Strange Logos or Designs: If the email looks different from what you usually see from a company, with blurry logos or odd fonts, it could be fake.
  • Too Good to Be True: If the email says you’ve won something you didn’t enter or offers something amazing, it’s probably a scam.

How to Stay Safe Against Phishing 

  1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. 
  2. Educate Yourself and Others: Conduct regular training to recognize phishing attempts. 
  3. Use Email Filters: Block suspicious emails before they reach your inbox. 
  4. Verify Requests: Always double-check requests for sensitive information through another communication channel. 
  5. Keep Software Updated: Ensure your systems have the latest security patches. 

What If You’ve Been Targeted 

  • Do not interact with the email further. 
  • Report the phishing attempt to your IT or security team. 
  • Change your passwords immediately if you suspect your credentials have been compromised. 
  • Monitor your accounts for any unauthorized activity. 

Credit and Resources:  

  • Image Credit- Designed by Freepik. Link for website (https://www.freepik.com/).