Phishing emails are sent out with the purpose of collecting sensitive information such as passwords, usernames, or credit card numbers.
Here are a few tips you can implement to protect your business against phishing scams.
For instance, be wary of any links or addresses that seem suspicious, verbiage designed to scare you, errors, requests for sensitive information, and suspicious attachments. Also, always invest in quality network firewall security.
1. Don’t click on links
Phishing emails are a popular method for hackers to spread malware. They usually include malicious links that direct people to malicious websites, as well as hidden malware that silently infects computers and mobile devices.
One of the most critical steps you can take to protect your business from phishing attacks is not clicking any links in emails. This is especially crucial for employees who may not have been trained on recognizing these types of emails.
If you are uncertain about an email, open a new browser window and type in the website URL manually. Doing this can help determine if the site is legitimate.
Phishing emails often request personal or confidential information such as passwords, account information, credit card numbers, and more. To protect yourself from this type of attack, always use strong passwords and never provide sensitive data via email unless you know who the request comes from.
Additionally, it’s best to avoid clicking on links if you don’t know their destination. Even if the email appears legitimate from a reliable source, always hover your mouse over the link and check its full URL before clicking it.
Another useful tool is Google’s URL checker, which checks if a link is legitimate. This feature is accessible on all major browsers and can be especially beneficial for businesses that prioritize employee safety.
Utilizing this technology is an effective way to protect your employees’ personal and company data from potential risks. It also keeps them informed about the latest scams and malware threats. As such, it could provide a long-term solution to the issue of cyber security in your workplace.
2. Check the sender’s email address
Phishing emails are an increasingly common type of cybercrime that affects businesses of all sizes. These malicious emails usually contain malware or links to a fake website where attackers attempt to trick you into providing sensitive information.
Accurately identifying a sender’s email address is one of the best ways to protect yourself from being scammed. Do this by hovering over or typing in their address bar with your browser open.
If the email address doesn’t match, then it’s likely a phishing attempt. You may be able to identify the sender by checking their social media profiles, searching for their email addresses on search engines, and even tracing them through LinkedIn.
Another way to confirm the legitimacy of an email is by speaking directly with its sender or sending them a message from your own account. If it comes from someone you trust, this can be an effective way to confirm they sent it and that there are no malicious contents within.
Make sure your employees are regularly informed of the latest phishing threats and receive regular security training to enable them to identify suspicious emails and how to respond appropriately. Doing this will protect them from becoming victims of a phishing attempt and safeguard your business from further damage caused by such attacks.
Password policy best practices and a password manager can help your employees safeguard their personal accounts from hackers. Require a minimum password length and complex characters to make it more difficult for hackers to crack them. Moreover, deploy multi-factor authentication for an extra layer of protection when logins in for employees.
3. Don’t provide personal or confidential information
Phishing is a type of cybercrime that uses deception to obtain sensitive information from victims, such as banking, credit card, and password details.
Information collected online may contain personal data and confidential business secrets that could be utilized for fraud, identity theft, and corporate espionage.
Thankfully, there is a legal standard to protect such information: an “agreement.” When someone provides such confidential data, it must be backed by an agreement that safeguards it.
This legal standard is essential because it can prevent data breaches. Furthermore, it guarantees that information is only used in accordance with federal and state laws.
Phishing emails come in many forms, but most are designed to appear legitimate and ask users for personal or confidential information by clicking on a link within the message.
To minimize the risk of cyber attacks, it’s best to never provide personal or confidential information in the first place. This includes financial account and credit card info, social security numbers, and other sensitive personal details.
4. Don’t open attachments
Email attachments are a prime target for hackers to gain access to your computer. According to the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, most users get viruses by opening and running unknown email attachments. They also give hackers the power to alter files, steal credit card information, or do other things that pose serious risks both to their safety and that of yours.
Although some attachments are more hazardous than others, you can take steps to ensure that malicious files do not end up in your email inbox. For instance, installing a virus scanner on your computer helps safeguard it against such infections.
Additionally, be sure to avoid opening any attachments from unknown sources. For instance, if someone sends you an email asking for your bank account number or password, delete the attachment immediately.
Another way hackers can trick you into opening an attachment is by forging your email address. To identify these emails, look for spelling or grammar mistakes, misplaced salutations, or messages that address you by the wrong name.
If you’re uncertain whether a sender is legitimate, ask yourself these questions: Do I know them? Are they from an organization where I work?
Usually, a network firewall can stop most of the spammy and malicious traffic. However, phishing emails are directly sent to your email and is hard to trace through the firewall. That’s why employee alertness is much more required to stop cyberattacks through phishing emails.
Answering these questions will give you a good indication of whether an email is secure or not. You can always reach out to the sender to verify their identity before opening any attachment, helping prevent downloading malware to friends and colleagues while keeping both personal and professional data secure.
