How to protect yourself from phishing attacks. 9/27/23
How to protect yourself from phishing attacks.
Phishing attacks are a type of online scam in which scammers try to trick you into revealing personal information, such as your passwords, credit card numbers, or Social Security number. They often do this by sending emails or text messages that look like they're from a legitimate company, such as a bank or credit card company.
Phishing attacks can be very convincing, but there are a few things you can do to protect yourself:
- Be suspicious of unsolicited emails and text messages. If you receive an email or text message from a company you don't recognize, or if it's asking for personal information, don't click on any links or enter any information.
- Hover over links before you click on them. This will show you the actual URL of the link, which may be different from the URL that's displayed in the email or text message. If the URL doesn't look familiar, don't click on it.
- Keep your software up to date. Software updates often include security patches that can help protect you from phishing attacks.
- Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication. Strong passwords are at least 12 characters long and include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring you to enter a code from your phone in addition to your password when you log in.
- Be careful about what information you share online. Don't share your personal information on social media or other public websites.
- Be careful about what attachments you open. Emails and text messages can contain attachments that are infected with malware. If you receive an attachment from someone you don't know, or if you're not expecting it, don't open it.
- Report phishing attacks to the authorities. If you think you've been the victim of a phishing attack, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and to the company that the scammer was impersonating.
Finally:
Sign up for my guaranteed malware protection. While I can't guarantee you won't get infected or become a victim of a phishing attack, I will remove them at no cost. I may not be able to correct the damage done by a phishing attack, however. This is something that cannot be prevented if you do not follow safe practices. I do offer additional protection that can reduce your chances of being a victim of a phishing scam by 50%-90%. I can even offer awareness training that will send you e-mails to see how well you are able to recognize a scam. Just send us an e-mail if you interested in finding out more to [email protected].
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