Coffee Break With Fuelled: 10 Tips To Defend Against Phishing

10 Tips To Defend Against Phishing

In the previous episode of Coffee Break With Fuelled, we showed our audience how to spot a phishing email when it shows up in their inbox. Knowledge is the best defense against phishing because it doesn’t rely on technological vulnerabilities — it relies on the target’s ignorance.

In this week’s episode, we give you 10 tips to defend against phishing. Check out the video to discover what they are:

10 Tips To Defend Against Phishing

1. Stay Up To Date On Phishing Techniques: Phishing scams are constantly evolving, with cybercriminals working to find new ways to trick unsuspecting users into clicking a dangerous link or giving up private information. That’s why ongoing security training and phishing tests are recommended for all end-users at your organization.
2. Think Before You Click: Always be sure to hover your mouse over a link in an email before clicking it. That allows you to see where it actually leads. While it may look harmless, the actual URL may show otherwise, so always look, and rarely click.
3. Use An Anti-Phishing Toolbar: It’s like that your internet browser of choice has this option. The toolbars run checks on sites you visit and cross-references with known-dangerous sites and will alter you if you’re somewhere you shouldn’t be.
4. Check Website Security: Before you give up any sensitive information, verify that the site’s URL begins with “HTTPS”. Any site with jus “HTTP” isn’t properly secured and shouldn’t be trusted with your information.
5. Check Online Accounts Regularly: If you leave an account unattended for long enough, someone could be making use of it without you knowing. Make a habit of checking in on online accounts on a regular basis.
6. Stay Up To Date: Security patches for your web browser and other apps are released on a regular basis and need to be applied to keep you safe. Don’t put off updates because they’re inconvenient.
7. Use A Firewall: High-quality firewalls provide an effective layer of defense between you and cybercriminals. Make sure to use one for your desktop and network (software and hardware, respectively).
8. Watch Out For Pop-Ups: Most browsers will allow you to turn off pop-ups, or review them on a case by case basis. When they do appear, only ever click the small ”x” to close them.
9. Never Give Out Your Private Info: No matter how legitimate it may seem, do not provide your personal information to anyone over a website. If you feel it’s necessary, call the company directly instead, or even meet with them in person if possible.
10. Use Antivirus Software: This type of cybersecurity defense will help to spot and eliminate incoming phishing threats.

Are You An Easy Target For Phishing Scams?

If you’re reading this article, then you’re probably worried about phishing — that’s a good thing, it means you’re taking the threat seriously. After all, 65% of organizations in the US have been hit by phishing.

The bottom line is that you can’t ignore the threat of phishing, and by reading this blog, you’re not. If you want direct, expert assistance in training yourself and your team to defend against phishing, contact the Fuelled Networks team to get started.

Click here to get started or call us at (613) 828-1384.