It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and each week I’m focusing on a theme from the See Yourself in Cyber campaign. Last week I asked you to stop changing your passwords so often, and this week it’s time to talk about how to spot phishing attempts.
When I was a kid, my parents encouraged me to explore my neighborhood, socialize with other children, and go outside and run around. The few cautions I heard regularly were “be home before dark” and “pay attention to your surroundings.” Those are excellent guidelines to follow at any age and in any context, so this week, I encourage SecurityWatch readers to heed the second bit of advice. Pay attention to your surroundings, even when you’re online, to avoid being phished. If a message or website’s content seems a little off or suspicious, don’t click any links, don’t open any attached files, and don’t download any software.
According to Statista, the most common crime reported to the US Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2021 was phishing. Phishing lures are getting topical and sophisticated, too. Last year, cybersecurity researchers warned about the rise in phishing messages about COVID-19. In January, the FBI warned the public about hackers who are phishing victims using QR codes, and last October, criminals working for the Russian government tried to ensnare victims with phishing emails.
Phishing is an attempt to steal victims’ data or money using a deceptive lure in the form of an email, SMS, online ad, or fake website. For example, earlier this year, the FBI warned that cybercriminals are sending out SMS fraud alerts that look like they come from financial institutions. If a victim responds to one of the messages, the fraudsters spoof the bank’s phone number, call the victim, impersonate the bank’s fraud department, and encourage the victim to transfer all their money.
Common characteristics of phishing messages include:
The traits above probably apply to many of the legitimate messages you receive, so how can you avoid being phished? Pay attention. If your browser alerts you about a potentially dangerous message, unsafe content, or a malicious website, heed the warning. Avoid clicking links, entering data, or downloading attachments from unknown or untrustworthy sources.
To keep from getting phished, follow these tips:
Google’s Jigsaw team developed a quiz to help everyone learn to spot phishing attempts. It shows visual examples of sophisticated phishing messages and asks users to determine whether they are being phished or not. You can practice hovering your mouse over links to see a real web address. You can also examine email headers and attachments, as in the screenshot below, to determine if a message is legitimate.
Enterprise software juggernaut Cisco created a phishing quiz for employees. The questions are part of a comprehensive phishing hub containing important information on why phishing works and how criminals plan their attacks.
The easiest way to thwart phishing is to use the greatest tool you have: your brain. According to a 2020 survey by Statista, employees said distraction was the number one reason they clicked on a phishing link. Use your brain and focus on your online surroundings to curb future phishing attacks.
Here are some other habits that can help you avoid phishing fallout:
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