How to Avoid Phishing
Phishing involves a cyber attack aiming to steal personal information, money or data. It can happen in a number of ways, including email, phone calls, text messages and Wi-Fi spoofing. Unlike other kinds of spam, which are often blocked by anti-virus programs or deleted when they reach an inbox, phishing emails are more sophisticated and harder for software and people to detect.
A common phishing technique is to use “clone” attacks, where attackers copy a legitimate message and replace links or attachments with malicious ones. In some cases, attackers will even add a fake resend to the original email to increase the likelihood of a victim clicking on a malicious link or downloading an attached file.
Another way hackers phish is by targeting the workplace, which is an easier target for employees than their home computers. Attackers can pose as managers or family members to trick workers into giving them their login credentials. They may also target colleagues by using AI voice generator tools to make them sound like their manager or a loved one over a phone call.
It’s important to remember that banks and credit card companies don’t email you for information or passwords. If you’re suspicious of an email, contact the company directly through a different channel. It’s also a good idea to use specialized email accounts for work and friends, so it’s more difficult for hackers to gain access to sensitive information. Using a separate email account for online payments can also help, as hackers are less likely to be able to identify the email address.