Phishing Attacks — Semalt Expert Explains How To Protect Yourself

1. 23.05.2018 Phishing Attacks — Semalt Expert Explains How To Protect Yourself Phishing is a common form of cyber-crime. Despite numerous reports by individuals concerning them falling victim to phishing, there are measures one can take to beat it. Apart from installing a security software, one needs to learn what phishing looks like to combat it. By learning how to identify signals indicating a potential phishing, a user will then ?nd it easier to pick a measure of the helpful list, suggested by Oliver King, the Customer Success Manager of Semalt Digital Services. What is Phishing? Phishing is a form of identity that is common among hackers. These perpetrators use fraudulent websites and false emails to lure unknowing victims to steal their private information. Mostly, they only need the credit card information, and passwords. By sending links to unsuspecting individuals, they steal information as soon as they enter the site. They provide links that look trustworthy to gain credibility. Most of the spoofed sites include PayPal, eBay, Yahoo!, and MSN. In some cases, some ?nancial institutions serve as targets as well. https://rankexperience.com/articles/article1057.html 1/2

2. 23.05.2018 Protecting against phishing #1. #1. Proceed with caution when entering a website which asks about con?dential information especially if it is in the form of ?nancial nature. Most legitimate organizations never ask a client to provide such information. #2. #2. If a website insists on providing them with sensitive information, then it is probably a trap. Some phishers like to use scare tactics, and sometimes threaten to have the account disabled unless certain information is made available. Contacting the merchant directly to con?rm their identity is key to evading a phishing attempt. #3. #3. Before making any dealings on the site, familiarize with the privacy policy. Most commercial websites have a privacy policy that they make readily available at the top of their page. On their policies, look for the mailing list, to know if they will or will not sell. #4. #4. Generic looking requests for information are another signal indicating phishing activity. Fraudulent emails are often not usually personalized. An of?cial email from a bank always has a reference account if one indeed opened one with them. Phishing campaigns may contain a "Dear Sir/Madam" with them, while others describe accounts that the user is not even aware exists. #5. #5. If the email message contains an embedded form, the wise option would be not to ?ll it. Hackers can easily track all the information entered on those forms. #6. #6. When connecting to a website, one should copy and paste a link on the address bar of a browser and not connect through the embedded link. Only do so if there is an assurance of authenticity. Sometimes, some phishing websites look identical to the original ones. A look at the address bar should inform a person if at all it is a copy. #7. #7. Most experts advise people to have in place, an active and ef?cient software to combat phishing activities on their computers. One recommended software is the Norton Internet Security, which automatically detects any phishing activity and blocks it. The software does not allow any fake websites and also authenticates any major banking or shopping activities by the user. https://rankexperience.com/articles/article1057.html 2/2