How to Protect Yourself from Phishing Link Attacks

Phishing attacks even today remain a constant threat to organizations and individuals. As per Verizon’s Data Breach Investigation Report, 2023, it was found that a whopping 82% of data breaches involved phishing elements. This huge number means billions of dollars were stolen and millions of individuals were left with compromised identities.

But phishing attacks shouldn’t be a matter of concern and the dangers of phishing attacks are not so alarming provided you are vigilant and aware of the necessary steps to be taken. Once you understand how phishing works and know what actions need to be taken when you accidentally click a phishing link, you can avoid the huge damage caused.

So, let’s dive deeper and understand phishing attacks closely.

What is Phishing?

It is a type of cybercrime where attackers try to steal the victim’s personal information including passwords, credit card details, social security numbers, etc. by portraying themselves as legitimate and trustworthy entities. Phishing attacks are usually done through emails, text messages, and nowadays even phone calls where the user is lured to click a malicious link and open an infected attachment.

Latest trends in Phishing

There are various kinds of phishing in business that you must know to successfully avoid falling victim to them.

• Spear phishing – In this method, attackers target very specific individuals within an organization. they collect user information from various sources including social media or data breaches. To targets, the email can appear to be sent from colleagues or senior professionals creating a sense of urgency.
• Smishing – When phishing attempts are carried out over SMS text messages, then it is called smishing. The SMS contains current events and popular trends to trick users into clicking malicious links.
• Vishing – These are phishing attacks carried over the phone. In this, scammers will impersonate themselves as a representative from banks, or any other companies and pressure the targets to reveal information, click on links, make payments, etc.

Ways to Protect yourself from Phishing attacks

So, here are some simple steps that you can follow to reduce your chances of falling victim to these phishing attacks:

• Be aware of unsolicited emails. No legitimate companies will ask you to send your personal information
• Always verify the sender’s address and don’t just rely on the sender’s name. check email address for domain name, spelling, and message center address as well.
• When you receive a link, first hover over it without clicking. It will help reveal the destination URL. If it doesn’t match with the displayed URL, then it’s probably a phishing scam.
• Never ever enter your personal information on unverified websites or websites without valid SSL i.e., a padlock in the website address.
• Always use multifactor authentication and strong passwords for enhanced security.
• Keep your device’s software always up to date
• Do not download attachments from untrusted sources. Even if you know the sender, be aware of the unexpected attachments.
• Educate yourself, friends, and family about the latest phishing attack tactics to ensure they remain safe and secure.

What to do if you click the phishing link?

Knowingly or unknowingly, we often click malicious links and fall victim to phishing attacks. If you think you’ve clicked on a phishing link and entered your information on a fake website, you must take the following actions immediately.

1. Change your passwords – Once you reveal your information on fake websites, then there are chances that your account is compromised and you must change your passwords immediately.
2. Contact your bank or credit card company – In case of financial fraud, you must contact and report the incident to your financial institutions and check for fraudulent activities.
3. Scan for Malware – check your device for any malware injected. Run a scan with your antivirus software to detect and remove malware that might have been downloaded.
4. Report phishing attempt – Report the phishing attempt to the platform you received it on for example Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
5. Enable Multi-factor Authentication – Activate MFA in all your accounts to add an extra layer of security. This will reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
6. Back up important files – back up important files onto local drives or the cloud in case anything happens to your device, then also your files remain safe.

Organizations must conduct regular training and awareness programs to empower their employees with the latest phishing trends and tactics and learn how to avoid them. They can also consider offering them cybersecurity certifications to enhance their basic cybersecurity knowledge and contribute to the overall security of the organization.

Conclusion

Phishing attacks are very common but they mostly rely on human error. So, by being aware of the latest phishing tactics scammers use, and taking precautionary measures, they can protect themselves from serious damages caused due to phishing attacks. Therefore, stay informed, stay vigilant, and protect your valuable information by being aware and educated.