In the News
Unfortunately, phishing attacks do not seem to be going anywhere. In ThreatList: Phishing Attacks Doubled in 2018, Lindsey O’Donnell at ThreatPost discusses the increase in phishing attacks from 2017 to 2018 and the methods used to prey on victims. O’Donnell explains that malicious attackers use current events to trick users into clicking on attachments and links containing harmful software. O’Donnell elaborates that social media and subscription services are also becoming prime targets for phishing attacks.
Our Take
Phishing attacks utilize their legitimate appearance to trick unsuspecting users into downloading harmful software and programs. Although more and more people are becoming aware of the reality of phishing attacks, they can be difficult to identify in fact. It is essential to know the signs of an email scam and know how to act if you are affected. Additionally, always remember to search through your search engine to verify legitimacy and find the appropriate site instead of clicking directly on links or attachments. Especially when it comes to social media and subscription services as sites for phishing attacks, it is crucial that users proceed with caution when ads or pop-ups appear on your devices. It is better to assume that an ad or attachment is suspicious and proceed with caution than fall prey to the attack because of a lack of caution.
Recommendations
How can you protect yourself from falling prey to a phishing attack?
- Understand the risks of putting your personal information into the world, and only share what you have to
- Use safe password practices, and take advantage of Multi-factor Authentication where possible
- Minimize the number of accounts that have direct access to your bank account or card numbers
- Refrain from opening suspicious attachments
- Check your email, financial accounts, and credit reports regularly for abnormal activities
- Stay up to date on the news regarding recent fraud and phishing attacks to see if you may have been affected