You’ve probably heard tech-savvy friends and IT professionals warn about the dangers of phishing attacks; they can be particularly devastating to business operations. But what is phishing, exactly, and what threat does it pose to you? Let’s go over the basics of phishing and what you can do to protect yourself against cyberattacks:
A phishing email is an email sent by a hacker designed to fool the recipient into downloading a virus, giving up their credit card number, personal information (like a social security number), or account or login information to a particular website. Often these emails are designed to look exactly like an official notification from the site they are trying to emulate.
For example, hackers have recently begun using a fake CDC.gov email address to lure people into clicking a link promising information about COVID-19. Once the link is clicked, the phishing site attempts to install a virus on your machine. A cyberattack can happen that quickly.
With so many of us working from home, phishing attacks are only going to increase – and they are going to get more sophisticated and harder to distinguish from legitimate emails. Now more than ever, it’s critical that you are wary of email notifications and the actions they request you take.
How can you tell a phishing email from a legitimate one? Here are a few telltale signs:
- Look closely at the email address to make sure it’s spelled correctly (e.g. name@ipad.com instead of name@companyname.com).
- Hover over any links in the email (but DON’T CLICK) to see the ACTUAL website you’ll be directed to. If there’s a mismatched or suspicious URL, delete the email immediately.
- Watch for poor grammar and spelling errors.
- Never download an attachment unless you know who sent it and what it is.
Keeping all of these things in mind can be tough. However, if you and your team are committed to the safety of your business, we at Dynamic Edge are offering free network assessments to gauge the security of your company’s data. Not only can we protect your information – we can equip you with the tools needed to fight phishing scams and cybersecurity threats. Contact us today to ensure your company’s data stays as safe.
