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Phishing is a type of cyber attack, often used to steal data, including log-in credentials, credit card numbers, etc. from the users. It usually happens when an attacker masquerades as a trusted entity dupes a user to open an email, instant message, or text messages.
An attack can have devastating results for the users, such as- unauthorized purchases, stealing funds, and identity theft.
Unfortunately, these phishing attacks are pretty common, and the emails and messages often look real. However, you can take some preventive measures to protect from phishing. You need to protect your personal credentials and businesses from these attacks at all times. Here’s what you can do to protect your business from phishing.
Understand the Tip-Off
Your inbox may be filled with numerous emails from work, advertisements, and subscriptions. However, emails with a cluster of typos, grammatical mistakes, or that coming from a suspicious address should raise one’s hackles. The scare tactics and “take immediate actions” type of messages are also suspicious and should not be acted on. Hence, as a general code, one should not open these emails or click on the buttons with these characteristics.
Take Delayed but Wise Decisions
To protect from phishing, you need to make careful decisions before acting upon it. If an email in your inbox comes from an unknown or unrecognized source, it is wise not to engage those emails. Not engaging those emails means not downloading them or clicking on its attachments whatsoever. Chances are, that the content of these emails is meant to attack your business. For protection against phishing, you should only click on those emails that you’re expecting and know what it contains.
Protecting Social Security Number and Financial Information
One should never share their Social Security Number (SSN) or financial data over emails. The reputable sources always have to go through a secured portal and follow a certain protocol whenever they ask for such information. Hence, be skeptical every time you’re asked to share information from suspicious sources.
For email phishing protection, you should rarely share these details over emails and always confirm the credibility of the organization asking for this information. If you’re sharing the details over the phone, ensure that you initiated the call.
Verify All Websites Before Taking a Call
Business organizations engage with all kinds of websites and emails all the time. It is important to learn about them and their authenticity thoroughly for phishing email protection. Your business is compromised when you make one wrong move and share it with suspicious entities.
When in doubt, you can always reach out to phishing protection tools that can make your task easier. There are several tools that can enhance your business security and ensure that you don’t face fraud losses. One such management tool is the RSA fraud action.
Understand the Latest Phishing Scheme in Your Industry
To protect from phishing, you need to understand the latest phishing scheme that your industry is facing. Being aware helps you prevent better. Hence, you should research what these attacks look like and remember the warning signs.
You can train yourself and your employees using the Sophos Phish threat. It is used to educate your end-users through automated attacks, quality, and security awareness training. The flexible and customized culture of Sophos Phish threat can help in protection against phishing.
Enabling Two-Factor Authentication
Enabling two-factor authorization is imperative to ensure phishing protection. Two-factor authentication is a security enhancement process where two methods of verification are used while logging in to your account. There are many web and applications that periodically send a text message with an additional code that one needs to log in with. Hence, to protect your business from phishing, you should use two-factor authentication. They protect you from unwanted activities that are directed to attack your system.
Choosing Your Email Provider
Some email service providers are better at flagging phishing scams than others. Ensure that your provider uses two-factor authentication, sophisticated spam, phishing filters, and alerts you about phishing scams. Also, you can use phishing protection software that helps you scan and filter phishing scams.
If You Suspect Phishing
If you think that you are being targeted for phishing scams, you should check your email logins to check for strange activities. Also, if you logged into your account from any other device, make sure you log out from all active sessions. Go through your bank statements and other details to check that they are not tampered with, and all activities and transfers are going to the right places. You can also change your password and enable two-factor authentication.
Hence, to protect your personal information or business from any phishing attacks, you should take protective measures and be aware of what goes around. You can protect your business just by knowing the signs and warning of phishing attacks.
