Emails and other forms of digital interfacing are the main ways that businesses communicate in today’s world. Business owners and their employees can receive hundreds of messages a day, creating opportunities for scammers and hackers to infiltrate. One of the most common cybersecurity breaches that businesses experience is due to phishing. Phishing scams are any malicious attempts to gain secure information through misrepresentation over emails, texts, and even phone calls. Going without a comprehensive cybersecurity plan could leave your business in peril.
What Is Phishing?
Phishing can occur in several different ways but the endgame is always the same, gain access to private information. Phishing scams often involve sending out massive amounts of messages where the email appears to come from a secure and reputable source. For example, you may receive an email that uses the font and branding of the bank you use that requests you to input your password. Once you give them this information, they typically use it to steal money in one way or another (credit card fraud, identity theft, bank withdrawals). These cyber attacks are carried out on a massive scale in hopes that a small percentage will fall for the ruse.
Signs of Phishing Scams
Too Good to Be True
One of the clearest signs of a phishing scam is when a message is ‘too good to be true.’ Free cruises, large payments for money transfers, and overly enticing offers are common angles that these scammers take. They aim to grab your attention and get you to enter valuable information. This can be especially difficult for business owners and employees who must always be looking for lucrative opportunities. Always keep in mind that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Urgent
Another strategy employed during phishing scams is creating a false sense of urgency in order to pressure someone into making a rash decision. They often pretend that you must enter your account information quickly in order to avoid account suspension or they claim that your account is in jeopardy and the password must be ‘changed’ immediately. It is rare that any reputable company would threaten you with such a sense of urgency. If you have any doubt whatsoever, contact the supposed organization from confirmed contact information.
Fake Hyperlinks
Phishing attacks often use misleading hyperlinks in order to trick their victims. They will claim that the link is to an official, reputable website but, upon inspection, it is to an unknown, unsecured address. These scammers will often use typos and similar spelling in their fake hyperlink, so read them very carefully.
Unexpected Sender/Unusual Message
Phishing emails don’t always pretend to be from a large corporation, it can get a lot more targeted than that. There are some situations where an employee of a business will get a message claiming to be from the boss. They will make a request for information or ask you to check out the attachments (containing spyware) on the email. These messages are usually written in vague, non-conversation language and have many of the warning signs mentioned above.
CyberSecurity Consulting
While these tips can help you avoid major phishing scams, no blog can replace formal education from a cybersecurity professional. By hiring consulting services for your business, you can get everyone informed on the best practices for avoiding phishing scams along with the multitude of other cybersecurity threats that are out there.
Protect Your Business
For the ultimate protection, get in touch with IT experts. Bay Computing & Consulting Services is a team of highly trained and experienced IT professionals ready to help you out. Our Remote IT Services can solve your tech issues no matter where you are.
BayCCS is here to help you with your technology issue when you need us. We will give your home or business computer the full treatment while we safeguard your network. We also offer consultations where we can identify security gaps and educate you and your employees on the best safety practices. Whether you are a big business or just a PC owner, we have you covered. Contact us today!