Protect Yourself From Phishing Scams

Phishing is a form of social engineering where attackers deceive people into revealing sensitive information or installing malware such as ransomware. Phishing attacks are often used to steal personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and Social Security numbers. They can also be used to install malware on computers, which can give attackers access to sensitive files or even control the computer remotely.

Phishing attacks can be very successful, as they often rely on human error. For example, an attacker might send an email that appears to be from a legitimate company, such as a bank or credit card company. The email might ask you to update your account information or to click on a link to view an important document. If you click on the link, you may be taken to a fake website that looks like the real website of the company. If you enter your login information on the fake website, the attacker will be able to access your account.

Things to do…

There are several things you can do to protect yourself from phishing scams:

• Be suspicious of any email or text message that asks for personal information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or Social Security numbers.
• Do not click on links in emails or text messages, even if they appear to be from a legitimate company.
• Go directly to the website of the company that the email or text message claims to be from, and log in to your account there.
• If you are unsure whether an email or text message is legitimate, you can contact the company that it claims to be from to verify its authenticity.

By taking these precautions, you can help protect yourself from phishing scams and the damage they can cause.

Things to avoid…

Here are some additional tips to help you avoid phishing scams:

• Install a good antivirus program and keep it up to date. Antivirus software can help to protect your computer from malware.
• Keep your software up to date. Software updates often include security patches that can help to protect your computer from attacks.
• Be careful about what you download. Only download files from trusted sources.
• Be aware of the latest phishing scams. There are many different types of phishing scams, so it is important to be aware of the latest ones.
• Report phishing scams to the authorities. If you receive a phishing email or text message, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ftc.gov/complaint. You can also report it to your bank or credit card company.

By following these tips, you can help protect yourself from phishing scams. Read more.

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