Phishing is a type of cyberattack where criminals try to trick you into revealing personal information or clicking on malicious links. Phishing emails often look like they’re from a legitimate company, such as your bank or credit card company. But they’re actually designed to steal your information or infect your device with malware.
Here are some tips for avoiding being a phishing victim:
- Be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls or emails. If you don’t know the sender, don’t open the email or answer the call.
- Don’t click on links in emails or text messages from unknown senders.
- Hover over links to see the actual URL before clicking on them.
- If you’re unsure whether an email is legitimate, contact the company directly using contact information from a previous statement or the company’s website.
- Don’t enter personal information on websites that are not secure. Look for the “https://” in the URL bar and a padlock icon.
- Keep your software up to date, including your operating system, web browser, and security software.
If you think you may have fallen victim to a phishing attack, change your passwords immediately and contact your bank or credit card company to monitor your accounts for suspicious activity.
