You may be familiar with the term ‘Phishing’ but if you’re not, it can essentially be described as a malicious process of obtaining confidential information through emails. These emails often look very convincing and are designed for you to open, click on links and enter private data.
Phishing can be very harmful to individuals and businesses and cyber criminals are always devising new ways to trick users. It is therefore very important that you know how to spot these types of emails to best protect your business.
Here’s a few ways to spot a Phishing attempt:
Check the Sender's Email Address
Always start by checking the sender’s email address. A lot of the time, scammers try to impersonate legitimate companies to trick you into providing sensitive information. They may use email addresses that are very similar to legitimate ones but with small differences that you may not notice without close inspection. For example, they may use name@aspect.it.co.uk instead of name@aspectit.co.uk.
Look for Urgency and Spelling Mistakes
Phishing emails often create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly. For example, they may claim that an account has been hacked and that you need to click a link to change your password immediately. Phishing emails can also be poorly written so if you notice any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors, be wary!
Take Caution When Clicking Links
Phishing emails can contain links that lead to scam websites designed to steal your information. Always be cautious when clicking links in emails, especially if they are from an unknown sender. Only click on links from trusted sources.
And remember, legitimate companies will never ask for sensitive or personal information via email, therefore, if an email is asking for your password, bank details etc – take caution. It’s likely to be a Phishing attempt!
We Can Help
Here at Aspect IT, we offer spam email filtering, a simple and cost-effective solution that helps streamline your inbox, separating spam, junk, malicious and suspicious emails from those that are legitimate. As a result, your business is better protected, you’re less stressed and you have more time to concentrate on important emails.
For more information, get in touch by calling 0161 241 9050 or drop us an email at info@aspectit.co.uk.