This is Two Minute Tech Tips, I’m your host Lester Steward. In this series we are discussing Business cybersecurity and what you need to know to protect your business.
Phishing spelled p-h-i-s-h-i-n-g is a scam the attempts to trick someone into giving out personal information. Proofpoint, a leader in email protection, defines phishing as, “when attackers send malicious emails designed to trick people into falling for a scam. Typically, the intent is to get users to reveal financial information, system credentials or other sensitive data.” They go on to explain, “On a basic level, phishing emails use social engineering to encourage users to act without thinking things through.”
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency lists a few tips for staving off these attempts, 1. “Play hard to get with strangers. Be cautious of generic greetings such as “Hello Bank Customer,” as these are often signs of phishing attempts. If you are concerned about the legitimacy of an email, call the company directly. 2. “Think before you act. Be wary of communications that implore you to act immediately.” 3. “Protect your personal information.” 4. “Be wary of hyperlinks. Avoid clicking on hyperlinks in emails and hover over links to verify authenticity.” 5. “Double your login protection. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to ensure that the only person who has access to your account is you.” 6. “Shake up your password protocol.” 7. “Install and update anti-virus software.”
The best way to keep your yourself safe is education and being critical of all forms of communication. And that feels like a lot of extra work but just taking a quick second to think before you click could save a lot of heartache and frustration.
On the next episode I’m continuing this discussion with more info about Ransomware and how to prevent attacks.
If you need any information on this subject, please let North Tech Group know by visiting our website ntgak.com and give us a follow-on Facebook or Twitter, where I post more tips to staying safe online.Thanks for joining me, Lester Steward for your Two Minute Tech Tips, helping you keep safe in your cybersecurity world.