Phishing is the illegal practice of sending emails which appear to come from a reputable organisation but which attempt to induce individuals to reveal potentially harmful personal information. This may, for example,, include passwords, bank account details, or credit card information.
It is a crime that is on the rise. In 2015 the average cost of phishing attacks was US $3.8 million – that had quadrupled to US $14.8 million in 2021, and, with the world increasingly digitalised post the pandemic, if anything the pace and intensity of such attacks is increasing.
Phishing is unlikely to go away any time soon, because it has proved such a lucrative way to make money for cyber criminals. However, there are steps individuals can take to ensure that they do not become victims themselves.
Think before Clicking
People should only click on links from sites they know and trust. If in any doubt whatsoever, the wisest advice is to shut down the email and independent verify its source first. A giveaway may be the spelling, punctuation and grammar used in such emails. If errors in any of these are spotted it may be a sign that something is wrong, because reputable firms employ professional copywriters specifically to prevent such mistakes.
Verify a Site’s Security
There are several ways to verify that a site is bona fide. First of all, before submitting any information, make sure that the site’s URL behind with “https”.
For example, this URL for a highly reputable betting company https://www.betalternativelink.com/ is one that can be trusted and has been independently verified by highly qualified security experts. There should also be a closed lock icon near the address bar.
Many sites also have a security certificate as well and this should be displayed on the home page.
Keep the Browser Up to Date
Although they can be infuriating to install, security patches for popular browsers are released all the time, because the cyber criminals are always finding new ways to part the unwary with their money. It is worth taking the time to update devices when they are released because they could yet be the first and best line of defence.
Password Etiquette
Password should never be shared with any one, no matter how trusted they may be. They should also be changed on a regular basis, and, for extra precaution, should contain a mixture of letters and numbers and special characters. They should also never be written down where others might discover them.
Personal Information
Personal or financially sensitive information should never be disclosed over the internet. If any organisation asks for such data, the best advice is to contact them directly and ask to speak directly to the person who made such a request. The chances are that they do not exist or know nothing about such a request.
Check Online Bank Accounts Regularly
Users should get into the habits of checking their bank account regularly just to make sure that there have been no fraudulent transactions occurring of which they have been unaware. Banks and other financial institutions might be able to take action by cancelling credit or debit card, but, if left undetected for a long time, it could be tool late by then, and the damage could already be done.
