How to Avoid Falling for Phishing Emails
Phishing is among the more common and effective strategies deployed by online scammers. It’s an easy concept to understand: the scammer sends an unsolicited email which attempts to trick the recipient into surrendering sensitive personal or financial information.
It might do this by requesting a direct reply, or by directing the user to a fake data-harvesting website.
It’s easy to suppose that you would never fall for such a thing. But in the age of AI, phishing has become remarkably subtle and targeted. So, how can we protect ourselves?
Recognise common red flags
If you look at the ‘spam’ folder on your email account, then you’ll notice a few of the characteristics that define phishing emails. They often come with generic greetings or contain unexpected attachments. They also attempt to instil a sense of urgency; when we make decisions quickly, we’re more likely to make an error. Look at the address of the sender, the way that the email is worded and the formatting.
Verify requests before responding
If you’re unsure whether a communication is legitimate, then it’s a good idea to verify before responding. Don’t simply reply to the email in question: manually type out the address of the individual or organisation in question, and ask for clarification. Often, the process of doing this will flag up subtle differences between the email account that sends the message and the real account of the organisation in question.
Safely check and report suspicious emails
Many email services offer special tools which empower users to flag suspicious emails and links. You can also use specific software and techniques, like a Tor browser, to improve your online privacy in general. You might use it to conceal your IP address from the website you’re engaging with, and to disable the tracking cookies that allow your personal data to persist from one website to the next. Being familiar with these benefits will allow you to enjoy a more balanced, secure digital life.
Check any links in the text
When you click on a link in an email or download an attachment, you’re putting yourself at risk. Be extremely cautious when you do either of those things. Often, it’s a good idea to navigate to a website manually in order to take the requested action. But a better approach is to simply disregard the email. Ask yourself how often you’re really required to take action urgently, and gauge the risk accordingly.
