Don't Take the Bait: A Guide to Spotting and Avoiding Phishing Emails with Social Engineering
Phishing emails are fraudulent messages that appear to come from legitimate sources such as financial institutions, government agencies, or popular online services. The goal of phishing emails is to trick the recipient into revealing personal or sensitive information, such as login credentials, credit card numbers, or social security numbers.
Phishing emails often use social engineering techniques to create a sense of urgency or importance. Social engineering is a tactic used by cyber-criminals to manipulate people into divulging sensitive information or performing an action that is not in their best interest.
Here are some common signs of phishing emails:
The sender's email address doesn't match the organization they claim to represent.
The email contains spelling or grammar errors.
The email asks you to provide personal information, such as your social security number, credit card number, or login credentials.
The email contains a suspicious link or attachment.
The email creates a sense of urgency or pressure to act quickly.
Phishing emails often use fake email addresses that look like legitimate ones. Here are some examples of fake email addresses:
“Paypal-Support@secure.net” (Note the "-Support" added to the real domain name "paypal.com")
“Amaz0n.deals@hotmail.com” (Note the use of a zero instead of the letter "o" in "Amazon" and the email address is a free email provider instead of an Amazon domain)
“support@apple-security.com” (Note the use of "apple-security.com" instead of "apple.com")
To check the legitimacy of an email address, hover your mouse over the sender's name to reveal the email address. If the email address looks suspicious, don't open the email.
Fake Websites/Domains
Phishing emails often contain links to fake websites that look like legitimate ones. Here are some examples of fake websites/domains:
paypa1.com (Note the use of the number "1" instead of the letter "l" in "paypal.com")
apple-supports.com (Note the use of "apple-supports.com" instead of "apple.com")
amaz0n-savings.com (Note the use of a zero instead of the letter "o" in "Amazon")
To check the legitimacy of a website/domain, hover your mouse over the link to see the destination URL. If the URL looks suspicious or different from the legitimate website, don't click on it.
It's important to note that cyber-criminals can also use legitimate-looking email addresses and websites to trick victims. Always double-check the email address and website/domain before providing any personal information or clicking on any links. If you're unsure, contact the company directly through their official website or customer service phone number.
Here are some tips to help you protect yourself from phishing emails:
Be cautious of unexpected emails: Be suspicious of unexpected emails from unknown senders or companies you don’t recognize. Always verify the sender’s identity before opening any attachments or clicking on any links.
It's important to note that sometimes personal email accounts can be hacked, and the hacker will use the compromised account to send phishing emails. If you receive a suspicious email from someone you know, it's best to reach out to that person through a different communication method (e.g., phone call, text message) to confirm whether they actually sent the email. It's also important to use strong, unique passwords for your email accounts and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect your accounts from being hacked.
Check the email address: Phishing emails often use fake email addresses that look like legitimate ones. Double-check the sender’s email address to make sure it matches the company they claim to be from.
Gmail: Hover over the sender's name to see their email address. If the email address looks suspicious, don't open the email.
Outlook: Right-click on the sender's name and select "Outlook Properties." Check the email address in the "Internet Headers" section to verify that it's legitimate.
Yahoo Mail: Hover over the sender's name to see their email address. If the email address looks suspicious, don't open the email.
Apple Mail: Click on the sender's name to reveal their email address. If the email address looks suspicious, don't open the email.
Mobile Apps: Tap and hold the sender's name to see their email address. If the email address looks suspicious, don't open the email.
Web Apps: Hover over the sender's name to see their email address. If the email address looks suspicious, don't open the email.
Be wary of urgent requests: Phishing emails often create a sense of urgency or pressure to act quickly. Be cautious of emails that ask you to act immediately or threaten negative consequences.
Don’t provide personal information: Legitimate companies never ask for personal information like passwords or social security numbers via email. Don’t provide personal information unless you are sure that the request is legitimate.
Check the website address: If an email asks you to click on a link, hover your mouse over the link to see the destination URL. If the URL looks suspicious or different from the legitimate website, don’t click on it.
Keep your software updated: Keeping your software updated helps protect your computer and email from security vulnerabilities that phishing emails can exploit.
Use security software: Anti-virus and anti-spam software can help protect your computer from phishing emails and other online threats.
In conclusion, phishing emails can be a serious threat to your personal information and online security. By following these tips and being vigilant, you can protect yourself from phishing emails and stay safe online.