One of the most devious ways hackers get into company computers and networks is through phishing attacks. This is usually where the scammer sends emails to workers at many companies. The idea is to get them to think it’s a legitimate link, so they click it.
Fortunately, the tips we outline can help you avoid these potentially devastating cyberattacks.
Phishing Overview
It helps to explain what phishing is, so employees know what to look for. Phishing is a common cybercrime where employees are usually contacted by text or email.
The criminal pretends to be a legitimate person or organization that the worker trusts. The idea is to get them to divulge sensitive information, especially passwords, credit card information, and banking information.
This information is taken and used to break into critical accounts, and the result can be ID theft and severe financial losses.
A typical phishing email has a sense of urgency, an unusual sender, and hyperlinks for the worker to click.
Stay Informed
Your organization should undertake an information security risk assessment at least once a year. Tell your employees everything you can about new phishing schemes to reduce company vulnerabilities during this process.
New phishing attacks are created as criminals’ old methods are stopped, and they come up with new ones.
IT administrators in the organization should have regular cybersecurity training, leading simulated phishing attacks for everyone in the organization. These training exercises can help prevent many of the most common phishing attacks.
Be Careful Of Pop-Up Ads
Pop-up windows may pretend to be part of an authentic website. But they are often phishing scams.
Fortunately, many browsers today make it easy to block pop-up ads, but you can allow them on individual websites.
If you do get a pop-up ad, it doesn’t usually help to hit the cancel button; this just goes to a phishing website. Instead, just click the X in the top right corner.
Check The Web Address
Always check the address bar when you click a link. It should go to the name of the website you expect. If it sends you to another website you don’t recognize, it could be a phishing scam.
Also, look for any attempts to hide the domain name of the URL. If there is anything after the domain name, it could be a scam. For example, chase.scam.com would go to a scam website.
Use An Anti-Phishing Toolbar
Most web browsers can have anti-phishing toolbars easily added. These toolbars will execute regular checks on sites that workers visit. In addition, the toolbar compares them to known phishing websites.
If you happen to come across a phishing site, the toolbar tells you. Most people find these toolbars helpful, and they’re free, so it’s smart to have them on every company device.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication
You can make it more difficult for criminals to break into systems with two or more credentials to access the company network.
Common multi-factor identification are a passcode that you get from an authentication application, or a fingerprint scan. As technology improves, some systems can now read your retina or face.
It’s more difficult for scammers to get into a system with multi-factor identification; with password only, the hacker only needs to guess it to gain access.
Set Devices To Update Software
Software updates can be annoying as they take bandwidth, but they are important to have because they usually contain updated anti-cyberattack programming that can help you avoid phishing attacks.
Make sure your work computer and electronic devices are set to automatically update the software every time there is a new release.
Keeping these pointers in mind can help you and your co-workers avoid most phishing attempts at work.