Avoid Being a Victim of Phishing by Following These Proper Guidelines
Phishing is the attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details (and money), often for malicious reasons, by disguising as a trustworthy entity in electronic communication. It usually results from email spoofing or instant messaging, and it often directs users to enter personal information at a fake website, the look and feel of which are identical to the legitimate one and the only difference is the URL of the site in concern. Phishing is an example of social engineering techniques used to deceive users and exploits weaknesses in current web security.
If you feel you have fallen victim to phishing, here are some things you can do to minimise risks:
Disconnect Internet Connection
Firstly, you should immediately disconnect your internet connection and alert your system administrator. If you have malware installed, then it will transmit information to the attacker. It would be best to get your system administrator to update your anti-virus programme and run a full scan. Once the scan results are out, your system administrator may reinstall the operating system to remove any other hidden threats.
Change Passwords
The next thing to do is to change your passwords for all affected accounts. Changing both your username and password would be better. Your system administrator will be able to advise you on which accounts have been attacked.
Report the Incident
In the event you have provided any personal information, you must report it to the relevant authorities and financial institutions. Also, immediately change your account numbers and any other account log-in details. It would be best if you could even close all accounts which were involved in the phishing attack.
If you provided any corporate information, then it would be best you alert your superiors and system administrators as soon as possible. Acting early on this could prevent any further breaches.
Take Necessary Measures
In the next few months of the phishing attack, stay alert and on the lookout for any signs of identity theft. The best option would be to reformat your computer and have your operating system reinstalled. Because of the increasing attacks, it would be best to update your backup systems.
Seek Help from Industry Experts
In the event you already fall victim, it would be advisable to seek the help of experts immediately. Professionals, like IT Solutions Pte. Ltd. will be able to provide you with all the ransomware support services and IT maintenance you require. They will also be able to offer you and your staff the training you need on how to identify phishing emails. Your data is precious, and it is best you take all necessary steps to safeguard it before it’s too late.
