14 Strategies to Prevent, Spot, and Avoid Phishing Scams
Since the Internet’s inception, phishing scams have existed, which has an unanticipated drawback. Since phishing schemes frequently follow a recognizable pattern, numerous trustworthy strategies exist to prevent and avoid them. First, let’s talk about prevention:
7 Ways to prevent phishing scams:
1. Educate yourself first, and then your staff.
Today, social engineering techniques are used in phishing attempts. They work to psychologically deceive victims into divulging private information without knowing what’s happening. Your staff should attend regular security training to learn how to avoid phishing schemes and spot strange emails.
Therefore, keep up with the most recent phishing trends and methods to stop assaults before they impact your company. Additionally, regular simulated social engineering testing can significantly lessen your company’s susceptibility to phishing frauds.
2. Trust your instincts. In other words, don’t click if something seems fishy!
If a message seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers frequently target people with freebies or unexpected refunds. They do this in order to persuade them to open a dubious email or click on a link that takes them to a phishing website. When in doubt, go directly to a website instead of clicking on a link you are unsure of. In addition, always hover over links before clicking on them to see where they are actually going.
3. Employ a security program
There are regular security software updates that come with the software. They feature new protections against software vulnerabilities and popular phishing attacks. By inspecting each file that enters your computer system, antivirus software is a powerful weapon that can stop damage to your network.
4. Consistently change passwords.
According to a Google survey, at least 65 percent of consumers use the same password across various accounts. Regular password upgrades may safeguard your company against the effects of data breaches.
5. Employ two-factor authentication.
Users must prove their identities in multi-factor authentication, or MFA. MFA adds extra layers of security to your accounts and guards against illegal access to your network and company data.
6. Use a Firewall
However, one of the most effective ways to safeguard your network from outside intrusions is with a good firewall. The chance of phishing scammers accessing your network can be significantly decreased using desktop firewall software and network firewall hardware.
7. Make a data backup.
The long-term success of your company depends on a solid data backup and recovery plan. Cyberattacks, human mistakes, defective technology, and natural calamities can all result in data loss. However, you can avoid incurring expensive or irreparable data loss by safeguarding your company from these unforeseen occurrences.
How to Spot and Avoiding Phishing Scams
Now that you know how to prevent phishing attempts, it’s time to talk about some of the ways to spot and avoid them. Here are 7 ways to recognize and avoid phishing scams:
1. Compare the email domain with the sender’s name.
Companies often have their own email domain and company accounts, with the exception of some tiny enterprises. Emails from FrankCrum, for instance, will display “@frankcrum.com.” Therefore, be wary if the domain doesn’t match the sender.
2. Verify that the domain’s spelling is accurate.
A hacker may purchase a domain with a misspelling of one or two letters that is close to a company name. For instance, they might use “@Frankcurm.com” instead of “@FrankCrum.” The incorrect spelling of a domain name is a dead giveaway for fraud.
3. Check the email for grammatical problems.
Typically, con artists are not great writers. Even if they might use translation and spell-check software, employing proper syntax and context can be challenging. Therefore, keep an eye out for errors that will tip you off.
4. Click only when you are sure.
If you are unsure whether an email attachment is authentic, never open it. Instead, hover your mouse pointer over any email button to view the URL before clicking. Finally, avoid clicking anywhere inside a dubious email. Sometimes, fraudulent emails contain a huge hyperlink that can be clicked on by accident and launch a malicious assault.
5. Call the sender if you have any questions.
To verify suspected emails, call the email sender at a known or verified phone number. Avoid using the phone numbers or reacting to the suspicious email.
6. If someone emails you asking for sensitive information, be cautious.
Any unsolicited email requesting your bank or credit card information, tax IDs, or credit score is a scam.
7. Examine the email’s timestamp.
B2B businesses rarely send emails in the middle of the night. Therefore, if you receive an email at three in the morning, carefully review it.
As you practice these principles, your accuracy will increase. You will begin to develop the habit of checking emails for fraud, and you’ll be able to easily and quickly recognize and avoid a phishing scam.