What is Phishing? Types and How to Prevent Phishing!

What is Phishing? Types and How to Prevent Phishing – Crime has become a problem that never stops rotating in human daily life. Either roughly or subtly. From ancient times until now, criminal acts are difficult to eradicate. Especially in the digital era, where electronic devices have become a means of new activities which are widely used by certain elements in carrying out their actions.

One of these actions is Phishing. What exactly is Phishing? Phishing is a criminal who disguises himself as a legitimate organization and commits criminal acts online. For example through email, text messages, advertisements, and other electronic media.

The purpose of phishing is to steal the sensitive information of its victims. To find out more about the dangers and techniques of Phishing, see the full explanation below.

What Is Phishing?

Phishing is one of the most dangerous threats to the online accounts and data of internet users worldwide. Because this type of exploitation hides behind the guise of a reputable company or person. Phishing perpetrators usually use elements of psychological manipulation to make victims fall into the scams and deceptions they create.

Lack of training and awareness about Phishing and Ransomware to the public is the reason why these attacks always succeed in getting their victims, especially for those who are new to technology. According to research, 6% of internet and social media users have never received training or education on internet security awareness, so they can still be tricked by phishing people.

History of Phishing

The word Phishing was coined around 1996 by hackers who stole American accounts and passwords online. By luring victims, these internet fraudsters use bait via email. Then they put hooks (pretexts, excuses, and the like) to lure the victim. To provide passwords and financial data via links provided to Internet users (their potential victims).

How Phishing Works

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One of the Phishing techniques under the guise of Email is usually the most common and often encountered. Usually, individuals under the guise of this type of Phishing use general greetings such as “Dear member”, “Dear account holder”, or “Dear customer”.

If you are dealing with the email, you will be asked later for the necessary information about your account. This will then be followed by an email reply from the perpetrator asking you to contact them by phone. Of course with the aim of convincing you about the email.

When you have fallen into their trap. So don’t be surprised if later you will be asked for some money to be sent to them or information about your bank account. Both conventional and digital ( E-Money ).

Types of Phishing

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Basically, phishing is one of the inevitable cyber crimes. Considering that all our daily activities have now switched to digital. Please note that phishing is divided into six different sections based on the type. For more, see the points below.

• Phishing Spear – Fraudulent email or electronic communications directed at specific individuals, organizations, or businesses. While it is often intended to steal data for malicious purposes, cybercriminals may also intend to install malware on users’ computers.
• Fake login Google Docs – With so many people relying on Google products, hackers see the perfect opportunity to steal user data. They will create a fake Google Docs login page, then send a phishing email. Of course with the hope of tricking someone into logging into the fake website. If you are not careful then say goodbye to all the Apps that require your Gmail Login.
• Link Manipulation – A form of phishing that attempts to create a malicious link that appears to be from a specific organization. This type of Phishing is for getting sensitive information like username, password, and other details. This attack is successful if the victim follows a link to a website and provides any information requested by the Person.
• Mobile Phishing – Is a type of Phishing that exists on smartphones, usually, this Phishing will send users fake SMS, social media messages, voice messages, or other in-app messages, and ask the recipient (victim) to update their account details, change passwords, or notify them that their account violates a rule. The message includes a link that is used to steal the victim’s personal information or install malware on his mobile device.
• Voice Phishing – This phishing occurs when a caller (a phishing person) attacks a user by using an urgent voice message and reassuring the victim of an accident that will lead to a money transfer. For example, the caller reported that their relative had an accident so the victim had to send some funds to the caller.
• Malvertising – This phishing technique uses online advertisements or Pop-ups to force you to click on a valid-looking link which then leads to the installation of malware on your computer.

Alert When You Are Xxposed to Phishing

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To find out if you are phishing or not, you can look at some of the signs. For example, receiving mysterious SMS, message winning prizes, and much more. Here’s more information about the signs if you have been phishing.

1. Received a mysterious SMS

Not only on email but also via SMS to messages via social media. If you receive a text message or call and don’t recognize the number, you can use Search Generator or a dedicated phone number directory to try to find out who texted you. If you receive unwanted contact from a phone number, you can block it or call the company from the phone number you are using for assistance.

2. Message to win a prize

Usually, sweepstakes scam messages claim that your name or email address has been “randomly selected” to win. However, legitimate sweepstakes don’t work this way. In almost all cases of sweepstakes, you can only win if you have actually purchased a coupon from the raffle organizer.

3. Social media accounts hacked

This can happen through a game, a mysterious survey, or a questionnaire where you have to interact by filling in some questions or spinning a raffle that gives you a chance to win by providing certain information.

4. You are sent warning messages and the like

In this phishing, you will be given certain warnings that lead to filling out a questionnaire or installing certain applications. For example, there is a warning “Your computer/smartphone is threatened by malware so you have to respond to the message given to install the application from the message.

How to Prevent Phishing Attacks

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Despite the rampant phishing crimes that are happening today, there are some tips to avoid it. For example, being more careful in guarding your confidential information, adding insight regarding phishing, to being diligent in updating firewalls and antiviruses. Here’s more detailed information about tips and solutions that you can do.

1. Keep your important information confidential

To keep it safe you can create a strong password for your account. When creating passwords, think of a word or number that cybercriminals cannot easily figure out. For example, using a vehicle plate number as a password or using an ID card number with a combination of letters and symbols, and so on.

2. Frequently delete messages in the email box

By deleting spam in the email box, at least you have reduced the risk of avoiding phishing. Given that Phishing itself often performs its actions via email messages.

3. Don’t share a lot of information on the internet

In cyberspace, you should always be careful in sharing personal information. Because phishing people often target people with this open nature, it’s because they are usually very easy to manipulate and trick.

4. Learn about Phishing techniques

By learning about Phishing at least you have added insight into the ways in which certain individuals trick their victims. That way you can be even more vigilant in browsing to avoid Phishing attacks.

5. Diligently update Firewall and Antivirus

Anti-Spyware and Firewall settings should always be enabled to prevent Phishing attacks and users should regularly update these programs. Firewall Protection can prevent access to malicious files by blocking them. Don’t forget to also install an antivirus because this software is able to scan every file that enters through the Internet to your computer so that if there is a suspicious file, the Antivirus will immediately execute it.

Conclusion

Phishing is just one of the many threats that exist in cyberspace. You as a user are obliged to know ways to prevent cybercrime that occurs around you through trusted sources such as online discussion forums and the like. That way you are at least able to fortify yourself from these threats.

A brief review on the meaning of phishing along with its history, how it works, its types, and how to prevent it. Share articles on your social media to make them more useful and rewarding. If you have any questions or opinions you would like to express, write through the comments field below. Thank you!

FAQ:

Can a VPN protect against Phishing?

Yes, you can because a VPN prevents email spam from leading to illegal websites. Most users are lured to phishing websites because they are influenced by many things. Therefore with the presence of a VPN, a private connection does not allow hackers to track their users’ email addresses and send you phishing emails. Even so, your chances of getting phishing are not zero considering how phishing works is becoming more and more abstract and unpredictable.

How to Avoid Phishing?

Anti-Spyware and Firewall settings should always be enabled to prevent Phishing attacks and users should regularly update programs. Firewall Protection can prevent access to malicious files by blocking them.

What is a brief description of Phishing?

Phishing is a type of cybercrime in which attackers pretend to be a trusted source to trick someone into sharing information such as bank account numbers, credit card details, login credentials, and other sensitive data.

What happens if I click on a Phishing link?

Clicking on a phishing link or opening an attachment from one of the spam messages may install malware, viruses, spyware, and even ransomware on your device.