How to Protect Yourself From Phishing
Phishing is a type of cyberattack that relies on deception to gain access to private data. This form of crime is particularly dangerous because it can allow hackers to steal personal information, including credit card numbers, without the victim’s knowledge or permission.
Whether you’re an employee or a customer, it’s important to recognize phishing scams and take precautionary measures against them. You can do this by changing your email passwords on a regular basis, and keeping up to date with recent news and trends in the industry.
How phishing works
In most cases, phishing attacks start with an email that looks like it’s coming from an official company. But how legitimate this is depends on a number of factors. For example, the sender’s domain may look different from that of the company.
The attacker can then use a variety of techniques to get the victim’s attention. They might send a message about an urgent issue (such as an upcoming tax bill or a new warrant for the victim’s arrest), or they can use fear to scare their victims into giving out their credentials.
What’s more, phishing campaigns can be designed to appear as if they come from a trusted company, such as a bank or a government agency. These scams often include an official-looking email address, and sometimes even a logo.
One way to help protect yourself from phishing is by registering your details with DMARC. This is a free service offered by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, and it provides added security to your accounts by making it harder for cybercriminals to send fraudulent messages to your inbox.