Cybercriminals have become quite savvy in their attempts to lure people in and get you to click on a link or open an attachment. This type of attack is called phishing. Phishing attacks use email or malicious websites (clicking on a link) to collect personal and financial information or to infect your machine with malware and viruses. Spear phishing involves highly specialized attached against specific targets or small groups of targets to collect info to collect information or gain access to systems.
You may not realize it, but you are a phishing target at school, at work, and at home. Ultimately, you are the most effective way to detect and stop phishing scams. When viewing e-mail messages, texts, or social media posts, look for the following indicators to prevent stolen passwords, personal data, or private information.
–Beware sketchy messages. Phishy messages may include a formal salutation, overly-friendly tone, grammatical errors, urgent requests, or gimmicks.
–Avoid opening links and attachments. Even if you know the sender, don’t click on links that could direct you to a bad website. And do not open attachments unless you are expecting a file from someone.
–Verify the source. Check the sender’s e-mail address to make sure it’s legitimate. If in doubt, just delete the message.
Knowing what you’re up against can help you be more secure. For some examples of phishing attempts and tips on what you can do to protect yourself, check out this quick video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpaLmeHTp3I
Computing Services is here to help you with cybersecurity and answer any questions you may have. Feel free to contact us at (719) 587-7741, computingservices@adams.edu, or stop by our offices in the Computing Services building.
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