Among all cybercrimes, phishing is one of the most common and dangerous. It involves a hacker pretending to be a reputable company or individual to steal someone’s personal information through SMS, emails, and other social communication platforms. Depending on the hacker’s goal, they can continue their attack to gather as much information as possible.
But if you’ve heard of phishing before, you probably thought you’re safe since you don’t have a habit of clicking on odd-looking links. Sadly, that’s not true. This and many more myths still lead users on, giving them false hope.
Let’s see more myths we need to debunk and how you can protect yourself from data leakage.
You Will Not Become A Victim If You’re Good With Technology
- Myth: If you’re tech-savvy, you’re aware of most phishing techniques and will not be a potential victim of cyber criminals.
- Fact: Everyone can fall for the phishing techniques, regardless of their experience with technology or the web network.
Unfortunately, even if you’re extremely self-aware when browsing the internet or using your phone, it’s still possible to click on a malicious link because hackers try to advance faster than general users. Any phishing email can look identical to the normal one you receive from your friends, coworkers, or service providers.
In case you doubt if the email or message you’ve received is safe, make sure you check the number and address, as it should be the same as the ones on the official website. Next, look at the domain name. It shouldn’t be misspelled. Additionally, any grammar mistakes or typos in the message itself are a red flag.
To further secure your online activities, consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN can help protect your browsing data and add an extra layer of security against phishing attacks, making it harder for cybercriminals to track your online movements.
Big Companies Won’t Fall Prey To Phishing
- Myth: Big corporations have good security systems, so they are not the usual victims of phishing attacks.
- Fact: Just like individuals not tied to major companies, full organizations can fall prey to phishing as the criminal seeks any sensitive data.
Sure, corporations aren’t always the original aim of cybercriminals. Yet, hackers started targeting organizations to get their hands on a whole list of personal records. There are many different end goals for criminals. Be it by making their way into major data storing systems, selling information on the black market, or planning continuous fraud, most of them are done to gain money.
It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to safeguard your personal or business account; make sure you don’t reuse your passwords. Come up with a unique one for every occasion, especially if you’re freshly registering in your corporation’s network.
You’re Under A Phishing Attack As Soon As You Click On The Malicious Link
- Myth: Once you tap the odd link you’ve received in the email or SMS, you’re already a victim of phishing and get your data stolen.
- Fact: Not all criminals use the same approach to phishing, and every process differs depending on the goal.
You’re compromised as soon as you click the link, right? Not always. Phishing criminals use various tactics based on their aim. But how does the procedure look?
First, the attacker will either take advantage of a real service or create a fake one very similar to the original (that’s called “spoofing”). After doing so and finding prey, they send the message through one of the communication channels. Most common topics will include something about package delivery or bank activity, accompanied by a link.
As the prey clicks the link, there are two variants:
- They have to fill in their login information and share personal data.
- The malware downloads on their device and collects personal data.
Either way, sensitive information ends up in the attacker’s hands, and then they can copy the login credentials to get access to other important accounts or sign straight into the account of the service they originally spoofed. So, make sure to use the tips on identifying fake emails and messages described before to avoid it.
All You Need Is A Good Antivirus To Protect Yourself From Phishing
- Myth: One antivirus program can fully shield you from phishing attacks.
- Fact: There are a few steps you can take to prevent phishing, including a good antivirus program.
While a good antivirus program will create a strong shield against hackers’ attacks, its powers might not be enough to send all phishing emails into your junk folder. Since attackers are always learning how to overcome security measures, they can find a way to break through the shield you’ve set.
In addition to an antivirus program and tricks mentioned above, two things can be done. First is enabling two-factor authentication, which will result in services always asking you for an additional code when you log into your account.
The second is a reliable password manager for Firefox or other browsers and for mobile operating systems. This software allows you to store all your passwords in one location, auto-generate unique and safe combinations, and login only on trusted domains. So, even if you open a phishing email, your login credentials will not autofill, and you’ll know something’s wrong.
As you can see, quite a few phishing myths are wandering the internet. Now, you know the real facts about this hacker attack and how to protect yourself from falling victim to this crime. Stay safe!