Protect Yourself Against Phishing Attacks

Phishing is an attempt made normally through email, to trick you into revealing your personal information, such as bank account information, login details, and more to the attacker. Phishing emails usually appear to come from frequent services you use, or websites you often visit, or important organizations requesting for your personal information such as credit card numbers, account numbers or login names and passwords. 

Malaysia fact: The highest phishing detected is Internet Banking where users are tricked to make payments or reveal their credentials.

In order for cyber criminals to successfully obtain your personal information, they must redirect you to a "fake" website which resembles a legitimate service that you often use. This redirect occurs most often through email, claiming to be from the legitimate service embedded with links.

Identify Phishing Emails

Phishing emails are effective, because they create sudden fear in people resulting in requiring the person to click through the link and perform the necessary changes to avoid losses.

Among the common causes are:

1. Threat to suspend or close accounts, if there is no response.
2. Penalty charges will be imposed if accounts have not been updated.
3. Claims that your account has been compromised.
4. Claims that important security information has been lost, and needs your info to verify your account.

Protect Yourself

1. Avoid providing personal information by responding to unsolicited requests.

Requests through email and phone, should be taken with care, because you may not know who is the caller or sender. However convincing it is you should ways be aware that there might be a potential for fraud.

2. Double check with official contacts

Double check before committing any information can save you in the long run against phishing attacks. Call official hotlines, dedicated service managers, or people whom you can trust that are verified to be official representatives before providing any information.

3. Never give your password to anyone or any place

Financial Institutions will never usually ask you to verify any information online. If there is a problem they would contact to have you come to a designated branch to resolve the matter.

4. Review your account

Make sure you check and double-check your account activity and see whether it balances with your monthly activity. This will immediately notify you if there are any irregularities such as purchases, or emails sent in your name that you have not committed to.

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What are your experiences with Phishing? Are there proven ways to find out if something is a Phishing Attack? Please feel free to share your experiences in the comments section below!

Referenced from SKMM |  photoby liferoiblog