03/05/2023
Some tips to avoid being the victim of a phishing attack:
Few (if any) websites, banks or businesses will ask you for confidential personal or financial information in an e-mail. If you receive an email asking for such information, it is likely a phishing email. Do not click on any links in the email.
Check the sender’s email address. If it looks suspicious or unfamiliar, do not click on any links in the email. The name may be one you recognise, but the email address may be completely different.
Watch for links and attachments. Hovering over links increases the likelihood that you’ll accidentally click them. Do not let yourself be provoked by the sense of urgency in many phishing emails.
Typos are a red flag. If you see typos in an email from a legitimate company or organization, it is likely a phishing email.
When in doubt, contact the supposed sender. If you are unsure whether an email is legitimate or not, contact the supposed sender directly to verify its authenticity. Never transfer money without a phone call to confirm.
Attachments should always be checked *before* opening - PDFs are a favourite malware vector and often appear to do nothing, whilst silently infecting your machine.
