What is Phishing, Update on Phishing and how Phishing Emails work

Preventing phishing requires more than common sense, it requires quality anti virus and anti malware software.

Cybersecurity and internet safety is our business, but in 2017, common sense remains very important in maintaining internet safety in London, Manchester or Dublin.

Today we update on phishing and the latest phishing trends and tricks.

If an email looks odd or is just to good to be true, it's probably because it is and is most probably a phishing attack. Always feel free to contact us here, the UK and Ireland's largest sales partner for F-Secure SAFE.

Phishing is a huge business and relies on catching you out in a moment of weakness.

Millions of phishing emails are sent out daily, the more the merrier and the greater the chance of success for the criminal. These emails are directly aimed at catching you out. And because they fool you into clicking into action - you won’t be protected by McAFee, Bitdefender, F-Secure SAFE as you are voluntarily doing this. These emails are usually from an organisation you trust like your bank.

Phishing Emails

Email is the primary means of ripping people off, but scoial media including Facebook and WhatsApp are now being increasingly used by cyber criminals to front their attacks.

The London Police Chief Bernard Hogan Howe is now on record as saying he expects the public to have a minimum level of online defense such as anti virus software and anti malware such as F-Secure SAFE or Internet Security.

Social Media, messaging applications, and email have become the primary ways of communication. We not only use it every day for work but to stay in touch with our friends and family. Additionally, email is now how most companies provide online services, such as confirmation of your online purchase or availability of your bank statements.

Consequently, with so many people around the world depending on email, it has become one of the primary attack methods used by cyber criminals.

Phishing

Phishing is an email or a messaging service (like those on social media sites) that tricks you into taking an action, such as clicking a link or activating the attachment. 

What's at Stake?

Falling victim to such an attack risks having your most sensitive information being stolen and your computer infected. Phishing emails are convincing - remember we are talking about motivated industrialised crime gangs. And of course the emails always looks legitmate, that’s the point.

Cyber criminals send these phishing emails to millions of people - there is no one target.

The Cyber criminals want your personal information, passwords, credit card details and banking details. These emails are aimed at getting you to visit a website that appears legitimate. Before you realise it you have provided your account information or personal data.

Poisoned Links:

The goal is to take control of your device. To do this, they send you an email with a link. If you click on the link, it takes you to a website that launches an attack on your device that, if successful, infects your system.

Malicious Attachments: One of the most common tactics and the goal is to infect and take control of your device. Criminals emails you an infected file, such as a Word document. Opening the attachment triggers the attack, potentially allowing the attacker systen control.

Protecting Yourself

Opening and reading an email or message is fine. For a phishing to work, the cyber criminals need to trick you into taking an action. Look out for the following

• You receive an email with an attachment that you were not expecting or the email entices you to open the attachment. From Banks, Revenue, Customs, Airlines, Federal ExpressAnd the major clue, the email greets you as like “Dear Customer.”  Not your name.

• Sense of urgency, demanding “immediate action” before something bad happens, like closing your account. They want to rush you into making a mistake without thinking.

• The email requests highly sensitive information, such as your credit card details or password.

• The email says it comes from an official organisation has poor grammar or spelling, or uses a personal email address like @gmail.com, @yahoo.com or @lineout.net

• One tip is to hover your mouse cursor over the link until a pop-up shows you where that link really takes you. If the link in the email doesn’t match the pop-up destination, don’t click it. On mobile devices, holding down your finger on a link gets the same pop-up. An even safer step is to copy and then paste the URL from the email into your browser or type the correct link.

• You receive a message from someone you know, but the tone or wording just does not sound like him or her. If you are suspicious, call the sender to verify they sent it. It is easy for a cyber attacker to create an email that appears to be from a friend or co-worker.

If you believe an email or message is a phishing attack, simply delete it. Ultimately, common sense is your best defense.

Always feel free to contact us regarding suspicious emails. We specialise in anti virus, anti malware, online parental control, parental control software for F-Secure SAFE UK and Ireland. 

BeSecureOnline - Cyber Security Software Ireland & UK

BeSecureOnline sell F-Secure SAFE in both the UK and Ireland.

Additionally, we sell and support online safety software including parental control software. We also sell the low cost Windows F-Secure 'Internet security' for windows only. For privacy we have the VPN software F Secure FREEDOME VPN.  

For more information about our products, please contact us.

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