Here’s How to Stop Email Phishing Scams from Harming Your Business Network
Has your company experienced phishing attempts, or have you suffered a successful phishing attack? If you’re trying to raise your workplace awareness regarding email phishing scams, we have some helpful information on how to stop email phishing scams in their tracks.
Start by watching our video and learn how to stop email phishing attempts from impacting your company’s productivity, bottom line and even your reputation with customers, prospects and vendors.
Dangerous links found in emails, social media and even online advertising continue to wreak havoc with Tucson small businesses (and larger organizations, of course) as well as those across the country.
Nobody wants to fall prey to an email phishing scam, but there’s a good reason that such scams will continue: They’re successful enough for cybercriminals to make significant profits from them, sad to say.
Phishing scams have been around practically since the beginning of the Internet, and they won’t go away any time soon. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid falling victim to them.
These are some basic tips to help keep you and your staff safe from a phishing attempt:
- Know Your Email Phishing Techniques. New phishing scams are being developed all the time. Remain aware of news about new phishing scams. By finding out about them as early as possible, you will be at a much lower risk of getting caught by one. For IT administrators, ongoing security awareness training and simulated phishing for all users is highly recommended in making security a top priority throughout your organization.
- Think Before Clicking! Clicking on links when you’re on trusted sites is fine. However, clicking on links that appear in random emails and instant messages isn’t such a wise decision. Hover over links that you are unsure of before clicking on them. Do they lead where they are supposed to lead? A phishing email may claim to be from a legitimate company and when you click the link to the website, it may look exactly like the real website. The email may ask you to fill in the information, though it may not contain your name. Most phishing emails will start with a generic “Dear Customer,” which should alert you. When in doubt, go directly to the source rather than clicking on a potentially dangerous link.
- Verify the Security of a Site. It’s natural to be a little leery about supplying sensitive financial information online. As long as you are on a secure website, however, you shouldn’t run into any trouble. Before submitting any information, make sure the site’s URL begins with “https” and there’s a closed-lock icon near the address bar. Check for the site’s security certificate as well. If you get a message stating a certain website may contain malicious files, do not open the website. Never download files from suspicious emails or websites.
- Use High-Quality Firewalls. These act as buffers between you, your computer and outside intruders. You should use two different kinds: a desktop firewall and a network firewall. The first option is a type of software, and the second option is a type of hardware. When used together, they drastically reduce the odds of hackers and phishers infiltrating your computer or your network. Earth Web Technologies can be your guide here and on all of these steps.
Before you read on, be sure to watch our video on avoiding email phishing scams!
- Use Caution with Pop-Up ads and Clickbait. Pop-up windows often masquerade as legitimate components of a website. All too often, though, they are phishing or clickbait attempts. Many popular browsers allow you to block pop-ups; you can allow them on a case-by-case basis. If one manages to slip through the cracks, don’t click on the “cancel” button; such buttons often lead to phishing sites. Instead, click the small “x” in the upper corner of the window.
- Don’t Give Out Personal Information. Never share personal or financially sensitive information over the Internet – until and unless you have over-the-phone or in-person verification from an associate who can be vouched for. Most phishing emails will direct you to pages where entries for financial or personal information are required. You should never make confidential entries through the links provided in emails. Never send an email with sensitive information to anyone. Always check the URL of the website. Remember, a secure website always starts with “https”.
- Antivirus Software. There are plenty of reasons to use antivirus software on your computer network. Special signatures that are included with antivirus software guard against known technology workarounds and loopholes. Just be sure to keep your software up to date. New definitions are added all the time because new scams are also constantly being dreamed up.
- You should use anti-spyware and firewall settings to prevent phishing attacks, and users should update these programs regularly. Firewall protection prevents access to malicious files by blocking the attacks. Antivirus software scans every file which comes through the Web to your computer, and helps to prevent damage to your system.
Bottom line on Phishing Scams:
You don’t have to live in fear of phishing scams. By following the preceding guidelines, you should be able to enjoy a worry-free online experience!
The Need for Cyber Security Education
Earth Web Technologies embraces the indispensable need for cyber security education, helping large and small companies throughout the Tucson metro area keep their companies secured from all cyber threats, including email phishing scams.
Internet phishing attacks (aka spear phishing attacks) continue to plague organizations as cyber criminals use this technique to fool staff members by having them click on links in fake or lookalike emails from your delivery companies, banks/credit card companies and other vendors.
With our help, however, you can put a stop to email phishing and spear phishing fraud and the negative impact on your company’s technology, bottom line, and reputation.
Contact us today at (520) 333-3374 or email us for more information on how to stop email phishing scams from harming yourself, your company, and your pocketbook.