Phishing scams are among the most dangerous ploys used on the internet these days. When phishers manage to hook a victim, they can steal personal information, drain bank accounts, set up loans using the names of their victims and more. Protecting against this crime is a must for anyone that uses a computer, in order to protect identity.
Understanding the Forms of Phishing
Phishing tends to involve two basic types of attack – email and website-based. They run a little differently, but they can go hand-in-hand. Here’s a look:
- Email phishing – In this kind of attack, the bad guys send potential victims emails that do one of two things. They either request the recipient to visit a fake website where they will be asked to input personal data, such as credit card numbers, that can then be used for the criminal’s personal gain. The other ploy they use involves directly asking for personal information in a return email. Nigerian scams, for example, often fit this bill.
- Website phishing – The internet is loaded with bogus websites set up by the bad guys. These sites are made to appear exactly like legitimate sites, such as those belonging to banks or major stores. When victims land on them – either by accident or through a phishing email link – they might be duped into offering up their own information willingly.
How to Safeguard against Phishing
Perhaps one of the most disturbing things about phishing involves the fact that victims often willingly give over their information. To protect against this:
- Use internet security software – Programs like Norton 360 are designed to help users avoid phishing scams. They do so by helping users identify safe websites, helping them steer clear of bad and potentially dangerous links and so on. This type of software can serve as a very strong line of defense.
- Never click on links in emails – Avoid clicking to a bank’s website, for example, from an email. Instead, if the bank is personally used, just type the URL into the web browser instead.
- Set spam filters – Make sure email accounts are set to filter out spam.
- Don’t open emails from unknown sources – If spam does make it through a filter, just delete it.
- Take care when giving out personal information – It’s never a good idea to share personal information, such as credit card numbers, via email or other online sources unless it is perfectly clear the person is known and the transaction is safe.
Phishing is a serious threat computer users need to protect themselves from. When the right actions are put into place, it is possible to avoid these scams and the damages they can cause.
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