For a short period of time, it seemed as if phishing emails, which are emails that attempt to get you to click on a link which then infects your computer with malware, were declining.
But just when the general public began to catch on to these sneaky attacks, the methods of the cybercriminals evolved. By using artificial intelligence to craft the emails and becoming more targeted in who received them, phishing attacks are again on the rise.
Here are a few ways you can identify phishing emails.
#1. You Don’t Recognize or Trust the Email Address
The first red flag that may come to your attention is the fact that you’ve never received an email from that address before.
While it’s obviously possible to receive emails from new addresses that aren’t necessarily harmful, phishing emails will also typically use variations of slogans or keywords from brands you know and trust.
Take a moment to confirm the email address before you click into the message.
#2. Look out for Spelling Errors
Phishing emails very often contain spelling and grammatical errors. Particularly if the phishing email is attempting to pose as a corporation, spelling and grammatical errors can be a major giveaway.
If the message is intended to be personalized to you, make sure it also includes your name somewhere within the email, and that your name is spelt accurately.
Most companies you know and trust won’t be making multiple spelling and copy mistakes in a single email.
#3. Requests for Personal Information
Reputable companies will almost never be requesting private or personal information from you over email. They especially wouldn’t request personal information from you suddenly, with little context.
If you feel uncomfortable with a request for personal information you receive via email, take caution. Call the customer service number of whatever organization you believe requested the information, and ask for details.
A general rule of thumb is not to share too much personal information over email to begin with, even with companies you’re familiar with.
#4. The Emailer is Interested in Getting you to Click a Link
The end goal of most phishing emails is getting you to click on a link that will then infect your computer with malware. If you’re reading an email that seems overly eager to get you to click on a link, you probably shouldn’t click on that link.
Particularly if you have already noticed something awry regarding the email, your best bet is to either discard the email, or go above and beyond to confirm its legitimacy.
The first step to prevent falling for phishing attacks is educating yourself on them.
Following the 4 tips in this blog will go a long way towards keeping you and your information safe. And remember, always be cautious when clicking on the links of unfamiliar emails.
Categorised in: antivirus, data breach, Digital Age, disaster recovery, spyware