Crybercrime is on the rise as technology advances. And phishing is one of the most common scams today. But it’s also so popular because it’s easy to scam thousands with it.
Whether you’re a business or an individual, it’s easy to identify and prevent falling prey to phishing scams since they’re so common. Here are a few ways to identify and prevent phishing:
1. The first thing to do is to be aware of what a phishing scam looks like. Even though there are a lot (and new ones are developed all the time), there are some common things that will make them discernable. If you stay informed of all the latest phishing attacks, you can also make your staff aware, and avoid an attack yourself.
2. It’s always safer to not click on risque links. Check the destination URL, match the URL, or type in the URL yourself.
3. And if the site looks questionable, is http instead of https, or there’s no padlock icon, it’s best to avoid entering sensitive information or download any files.
4. If you download free anti-phishing add-ons, they will alert you if you are visiting a malicious website.
5. If there are available updates and security patches for any software (like your browser), don’t put them off- do it! These contain fixes for newer cyber attacks.
6. This might be old school, but pop-ups ads can install phishing malware in your system. You should avoid clicking on these popups (which also look like Download links). You could also download an ad blocker.
7. Firewalls work! Your desktop and network firewalls can prevent an attacker from hacking into your system.
8. It’s a really bad idea to use the same passwords everywhere. Because then if an attackers gets a hold of your password, they’ll get into all of your accounts. So make a habit of rotating your passwords.
9. And do we need to say that you shouldn’t give out sensitive information unless it’s absolutely needed and you know what you are doing?
10. Even after you follow the best security practices, sometimes, an attack may just slip through. If you are a victim, it’s important to detect and react early.
With Lionfish, you are automatically alerted for unwanted changes and anomalous behaviour. We also notify you if you have been compromised, and help you take action to prevent further damage. With Lionfish, you don’t overburden your IT team, and your employees can focus on what really matters.
For more information or to schedule an informational call, email us at [email protected].