How to recognize a phishing attack
What is phishing?
Phishing is a attempted fraud which involves impersonating a legitimate source in order to persuade the victim to disclose sensitive information.
To fool you, hackers generally use techniques such asidentity theft of a trusted company or contact, threats or urging to act with urgency. ⏰
How can I protect myself from phishing attacks?
1. Avoid clicking too quickly
Especially on sponsored links. Keep in mind that hackers often urge you to act with urgency, so you don't have time to check your sources. ⏰
2. Limit the amount of personal information you share online
3. Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks
And review your privacy settings.
4. Never open ".exe" files.
From unsolicited e-mails: they may contain malware.
5. Check that the URL is secure before clicking
Hover your mouse over the URL without clicking, and check that the URL at the bottom left of your screen begins with a protocol such as : https://...
⚠️ Note that this will only guarantee that your information is encrypted, but you should still be suspicious and make sure that the name of the website actually corresponds to the company or alleged source.,
6. Beware of unusual or dubious extensions
Check that the URL contains the correct extension (usually ".com" or ".fr") and beware of unusual or questionable extensions (as in ".tk"or ".info“).
For example:
- http://facebook.tk/ ⛔
- https://www.facebook.com/ ✅
Practical : Red Flag Domains brings together the latest malicious sites. One more solution to protect you from hackers.
➡️ You can also strengthen your cybersecurity foundations on the CNIL website and deepen your knowledge of the subject, thanks to their training for professionals.