What is Phishing?
Phishing is a fraudulent act committed by individuals who want to gain access to sensitive personal information for an array of purposes. Contrary to what many believe one of the best ways you can protect yourself from phishing isn’t to install defense programs or increase security measures, but instead to learn how to recognize a phish.
The most common form of phishing requires the use of email. These emails usually appear to originate from a well organized financial establishment and ask for personal information that if placed in the wrong hands automatically puts you at great risk. A “legitimate” phish will most likely ask you at one point and time for your credit card number, social security number, account number or password. Many times phishing effort s seem to come from sites with which you do not even have an account with, giving you all the more evidence which will allow you to discover if indeed the email is a phishing attempt. It isn’t uncommon for a phishing email to instruct you to click on a link which will redirect you to a site where you’re expected to enter personal information. Authentic organizations should and will never ask you to confirm this information via email.
Phishing usually takes place when an individual or group of individuals feel the need to collect sensitive and personal information for a wide variety of purposes including (but not limited to) online purchases, identity theft, misrepresentation and use of financial information.
How to Recognize a Phishing Attack
Since phishing emails are usually sent in mass quantities Internet criminals utilize generic names, for example: “First Phony Bank Customer”. This is done so that they do not have to type every single recipients name into the emails, as this can be very time consuming and hectic. If you don’t see your name anywhere in the email, then treat it with caution and suspicion. A phishing email usually contains a forged link somewhere within its contents instructing you to click on this link so that it may redirect you to a “safe” site so that you can then enter your personal information. One way to safeguard against forged links is to try and locate the “https”, because the “s” stands for secure. If you can’t locate https anywhere within the link, then try not to proceed.
Legitimate organizations are very skeptical about asking for sensitive information through emails because it can easily end up in the wrong hands. Therefore if you receive a request for personal information within an email, then it is most likely a phishing attempt. Phishing emails are constructed on the very concept of urgency, meaning that a phish will try to inform you that something is in need of your dire attention. Usually Internet criminals try to instill this urgency by informing you that there has been a breach in your account, unwanted access by a third party, or the need to confirm your personal information.
Conclusion
Fraudulent emails can be found all over the Internet. Cyber criminals will never stop working in order to gain access to your computer, life, and personal information, therefore the information given above should be seen as a way to help protect yourself from the various forms of phishing attacks that many fall a victim of.
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