5 tips on how to avoid phishing

Phishing remains one of the most common and effective ways cybercriminals gain access to your sensitive data. It often starts with a deceptive email or message that looks legitimate, but its goal is always the same: to steal your personal information or compromise your accounts. Fortunately, by taking some simple precautions, you can protect yourself and your business from falling victim to phishing scams.

What is a phishing scam?

Phishing is a form of social engineering cyberattack where criminals impersonate legitimate organisations, such as banks, government bodies, or even popular social media platforms, to trick you into revealing personal, financial or login information. These attacks typically come in the form of emails, text messages, or even phone calls that encourage you to click on links, download attachments, or provide sensitive data. The risks of falling for a phishing scam can be severe, including identity theft, financial loss, and data breaches.

How to avoid a phishing attack

1. Be cautious with emails and links

Phishing emails can be difficult to spot. They often look like they come from trusted sources, using familiar logos, official language, and even personalised greetings. However, the content of these emails is designed to manipulate you into taking action that puts your data at risk.

How can you protect yourself?

• Always check the sender’s email address closely. Scammers often use addresses that look nearly identical to legitimate ones but with subtle differences.
• Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails. Even if the email seems to come from someone you know, it’s better to type the website address into your browser manually rather than clicking on a link.
• If you’re ever in doubt, directly contact the organisation or person who supposedly sent the message to verify its authenticity.

2. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)

While strong passwords are important, they’re no longer enough to keep your accounts safe. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring more than just a password to access your account. This could involve a code sent to your phone or an authentication app, ensuring that even if your password is compromised, hackers won’t be able to access your account without the second factor.

Why do you need this?

• MFA helps protect your accounts from unauthorised access, even if your login credentials are compromised in a phishing attack.
• Make sure to enable MFA wherever possible, particularly for your most sensitive accounts like email, banking, and business accounts.

3. Avoid opening suspicious attachments

Phishing emails often contain attachments that seem harmless, such as invoices, legal documents, or reports. However, these attachments can contain malware that, once opened, can compromise your system and give attackers access to your data.

How to stay safe:

• Never open an attachment unless you're expecting it, and even then, be sure it's from a trusted source.
• Use antivirus software to scan attachments before opening them.
• If you're unsure about an attachment, reach out to the sender to confirm its legitimacy before opening it.

4. Keep your software updated

One of the most common ways cybercriminals exploit systems is by targeting vulnerabilities in outdated software. Phishing attacks can sometimes involve malware that takes advantage of these weaknesses. By keeping your software up to date, you help close these security gaps, making it more difficult for attackers to succeed.

Best practices:

• Enable automatic updates for your operating system and applications so that you’re always using the latest, most secure versions.
• Regularly update your antivirus and anti-malware software to ensure you're protected against the latest threats.

5. Educate your employees and use anti-phishing tools

Human error is often the weakest link in cybersecurity. If your employees don’t know how to spot phishing attempts, your business could be at risk. Providing training on how to recognise phishing emails and using anti-phishing software can help mitigate this threat.

How can you protect your business?

• Train employees regularly on how to identify phishing attempts and respond appropriately.
• Use a phishing testing service to help identify phishing vulnerabilities.
• Implement anti-phishing tools that can detect and block malicious emails before they even reach your team.
• Encourage a culture of caution, reminding employees to always question suspicious messages, even if they appear to come from trusted sources.

Phishing scams are one of the most prevalent forms of cybercrime, but with the right knowledge and tools, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to these attacks. At OnSecurity, we specialise in phishing penetration testing and cybersecurity, helping businesses identify vulnerabilities and safeguard against the latest threats. Contact us today to learn how we can help you fortify your security and avoid falling prey to phishing scams.