What is phishing?
Phishing is a play on “fishing,” as it is a way of “throwing out bait” to see who bites. It involves sending correspondence that appears legitimate but is meant to lure a potential victim into providing personal information for nefarious purposes.
Spear Phishing is more effective than traditional phishing scams, as it is tailored to a specific target. These types of phishers often have some private info about the individuals they are attempting to lure in.
How do you spot a phishing email?
There are many ways you can spot a phishing email. The following are just a few examples:
- Spelling errors. Read emails word for word rather than skimming. Multiple errors are a common sign of a scam.
- Sense of urgency. Scammers will attempt to scare victims into sharing private information. Be wary of messaging that threatens the reader if immediate action is not taken.
- Unfamiliar or incorrect addresses. An email address with misspellings, excess numbers, or similarities to a contact you know may be a scammer.
- Inclusion of suspicious links. Phishing emails will often attempt to take you to a new page, exposing your computer to malware and other threats.
You suspect that you’re being phished- what do you do now?
You can never be too careful. Even if an email looks like it’s from a trusted employee or friend, treat suspicious emails cautiously. Contact this person via phone call. Do not click on any links or respond with any personal information about you or your company unless you are certain it is safe.
The largest percent of security breaches stem from employee error. Therefore, the best way to combat phishing and other cyber threats is through education.
Great News! We offer FREE Cyber Security Training.
We like to believe that we could spot a scammer from a mile away. Unfortunately, phishing, spear phishing and other cyber threats are evolving and becoming harder to detect every day. At Glassen Technology Services, we implement preventive measures to keep your information safe.
That’s why we offer a professional cyber security training program, PII Protect, to all of our clients. The interactive program takes less than one hour to complete and includes a short pass/fail quiz. So, your office can be proactive, rather than reactive against these real threats. For your free security training link, email [email protected]
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