Here Are The Most Effective Ways To Protect Yourself From Phishing

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5 Tips To Prevent Phishing Attacks In The Best Possible Way

The first phishing attacks appeared at the end of the last century, and now Google estimates that about 12.4 million users worldwide become phishing victims yearly. Although traditional phishing methods are gradually becoming a thing of the past, this fraud still poses a severe threat to individuals and companies.

However, if you use the five tips to protect your data and money from phishing scams described in this article, you hardly ever find yourself in a similar situation.

What Is Phishing And Its Purpose

Before we get to our guide below, just in case you don't know exactly, phishing is an online fraud to obtain user identification data (logins and passwords to bank cards and accounts). Most often, phishing is a mass mailing of emails and notifications on behalf of well-known brands, banks, payment systems, email services, or social networks. Such emails usually contain a logo, a message, and a direct link to a site that is confusingly similar to the real one.

The link requires users to visit the fake site and enter confidential data into corresponding fields. As a result, phishers gain access to users' accounts. Consider also that such attacks can target both individuals and individual companies. In the first case, they aim to gain access to logins, passwords, account numbers of banking services, payment systems, various providers, social networks, or email services.

phishing protection

Moreover, hackers can use phishing to install malware on the victim's computer. However, not all intruders independently cash out the accounts they access. And it's not surprising because it is a complex process from a practical point of view since criminals are easier to catch and bring to justice in such a case.

That's why some phishers, having received confidential data, sell it to other scammers who use well-established schemes to withdraw money from accounts. In cases where phishing attacks are directed at companies, cybercriminals seek to obtain the account data of a team member and then expand their attack on the company.

How to Avoid Phishing Attacks

Phishing is often spread through mass mailings supposedly on behalf of well-known companies or even your bank. They ask you to urgently update or confirm the correctness of your data using the links provided. And if you enter your data, attackers can access your financial assets in bank accounts. So read further to learn how to avoid this situation and not be hooked by cyber thieves.

1. Set Up Two-Factor Authentication

To protect your profile on social networks, set up two-factor authentication and connect it with the Google Authenticator app. To do this, go to your Facebook profile, open the settings, and select Security. Next, find the two-factor authentication option and click on it.

Congratulations, since your profile will be harder to hack than profiles with simple passwords. Note that two-factor authentication is adequate additional protection for the user's profile. However, it would help if you remembered that making a profile utterly immune to hacking is impossible.

2. Protect Remote Access Tools to Bank Accounts

The mobile number is a convenient identifier, but, unfortunately, it is insecure. If it continues to be used to identify and confirm transactions, businesses and people should pay extra attention to their protection. And here, we mean logins, passwords, and everything related to the phone number and the phone itself. So, how to do it?

  • Set a PIN code on your SIM card. For some reason, some mobile operators disable it by default or put the default 0000. If you do not know how to fix it, visit the operator's shop or ask a question in support. In any case, don't put it off if you want to keep your data safe.
  • Set the PIN code to lock your phone. Remember that there is a code for access to the phone: it blocks the phone. And the previous tip describes the SIM card PIN: it locks the SIM. These are different things that work independently of each other. So set both.
  • If your phone has fingerprint or facial recognition, use those too. Such a solution is more effective than setting up a PIN code since neither finger nor face can be picked up or spied on by peeking over your shoulder.
  • Turn off the display of SMS content and push notifications on the locked screen. There's no point in protecting the device if everything is visible, even on a locked one.
  • Protect the applications of banks and mobile operators with a PIN code or a fingerprint or face recognition tool. Use it not only for bank apps but also apps of mobile operators. If criminals access the operator's app and get the qlink wireless puk code via it, they can change the PIN code on the SIM card and move it to another phone.
  • Connect Google Authenticator. Download the app and use the one-time code it generates when logging in from unknown devices. Remember to keep the one-time backup codes, which you can enter if you can't use the app.

And finally, keep your money in a bank so your phone number is not tied to it. But of course, you won't be able to protect yourself from all possible situations, but by doing the above, you will seriously reduce the risk of losing your money and data.

3. Don't Trust Dubious Applications

To protect your data and social networking profiles, please don't download dubious applications that offer to make money. In addition, you must avoid apps of strange origin if you don't want a virus to get into your phone or computer. Finally, consider that viruses can't get into devices by themselves. Instead, they need a particular path, everything from WiFi networks to various apps.

4. Be Careful with Passwords

Only download unverified applications with high ratings, and don't sign up anywhere. Also, don't use AppStore and iCloud passwords everywhere when signing up. In the case of Apple, if you lose your AppStore and iCloud password and login, you lose all functions in Apple.

5. Be in Touch with the Site Creator

Users with their websites should stay in touch with the programmers-creators of the sites and be more attentive to their vulnerabilities. You should also pay attention to cameras that hackers can use to obtain information. In this case, you should immediately update passwords and logins and keep the port closed.

Unfortunately, cyberattacks have long been part of people's lives. Protecting against fraudsters is a global task for corporations and startups that develop financial, e-commerce, and other services. But users should also remember simple steps to avoid getting hooked by intruders.

How To Report Online Fraud

Let your close family and online friends know about these ways to avoid phishing on your social media channels, so feel free to share this page. When it comes to official scam reporting, you can report scammers and any other suspicious activity to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) using the portal below:

Report To The FTC Here

How To Protect Yourself More

If you want to be amongst the first to receive notifications about the most notorious scams every week, then subscribe to the Scam Detector newsletter here. You will receive periodic emails from us with insightful tips on how to prevent fraud and information about the newest tools you can use to fight crime.

Meanwhile, feel free to educate yourself with some other Amazon fraud-related articles. They are listed under this paragraph, so that you know how to stay safe online. Last but not least, if you went through any bad experiences, make sure to use the comments section below to expose other scammers.

7 Tips For Staying Safe Online

Computer Protection: How To Block All Malicious Sites

Fraud Prevention and Cybersecurity In The Modern Day


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selma hrynchuk
Selma HrynchukSelma is a fraud prevention specialist renowned for her expertise in private eye investigations and a remarkable partnership with law enforcement agencies. Beyond her investigative triumphs, her public speaking engagements and written works have empowered countless individuals to protect themselves and stay ahead of deceptive schemes. Selma's legacy shines as a tenacious agent of change, unyielding in her commitment to battling fraud and ensuring a safer world for all.

1 thought on “Here Are The Most Effective Ways To Protect Yourself From Phishing”

  1. Funny I was on your website and it says– Enter Your Email Below To Learn How You Can Start Collecting Paychecks In A Matter Of Days and says By submitting your email address, you give The Profit Advocate permission to deliver the report or research you’re requesting to your email inbox. The policy goes even further to say
    It’s Today Media, LLC (“we,” “our,” or “us”) provides this privacy policy to describe how we collect, use, and share the information of individuals who visit our website at TheProfitAdvocate.com So tell doesn’t this sound like a scam

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