Phishing Awareness: Protecting Yourself Online

Phishing is a deceptive technique used by cybercriminals to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, credit card details, and personal data. These attackers often impersonate legitimate organizations – like banks, social media platforms, or government agencies – to gain trust and encourage victims to take action.

How Phishing Attacks Work

Here's a breakdown of how phishing attacks typically unfold:

• Deceptive Emails/Messages: Attackers send emails, text messages, or social media messages that appear to be from a trusted source.
• Urgency & Threats: These messages often create a sense of urgency or threaten negative consequences if you don't act immediately (e.g., "Your account will be suspended").
• Malicious Links/Attachments: The messages contain links that lead to fake websites designed to steal your information or attachments that contain malware.
• Requests for Information: The fake websites ask you to log in with your credentials or provide personal details.

Recognizing Phishing Attempts

Here are some key indicators that an email or message might be a phishing attempt:

• Suspicious Sender Address: Look for misspellings or unusual domain names.
• Generic Greetings: "Dear Customer" or "Valued User" instead of your name.
• Poor Grammar & Spelling: Phishing messages often contain grammatical errors and typos.
• Requests for Personal Information: Legitimate organizations rarely ask for sensitive information via email.
• Unsolicited Links: Be wary of clicking links in emails, especially if they are unexpected.

Protecting Yourself

Taking these precautions can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to phishing attacks:

• Verify Requests: If you receive a suspicious request for information, contact the organization directly through a known phone number or website – not the one provided in the message.
• Hover Before Clicking: Hover your mouse over links to see the actual URL before clicking.
• Use Strong Passwords & Two-Factor Authentication: Strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication add an extra layer of security.
• Keep Your Software Updated: Regularly update your operating system and software to patch security vulnerabilities.

For more information, visit the Federal Trade Commission's Phishing page.