Sometimes, phishing scams are easy to fall for, specifically when the hacker knows what they’re doing and makes the email look shockingly real. And if you or an employee fall for this, your cybersecurity is at risk, plus any personal data uploaded into your systems. Every business owner should understand how to protect their cybersecurity, including knowing these tips to recognize and avoid phishing scams.

Tips To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams

Avoid Opening Suspicious Emails

Before opening an email, it’s always best to check who the email is from. You can do this by mousing over the sender since this allows you to see the full email address rather than just the person’s name. If you don’t recognize the address, it’s always best to forward it to your IT department for closer inspection.

The email address may look like one you know, but something is slightly off. This could be a small misspelling or another change to the standard address you recognize. Avoid opening these emails, as hackers sometimes use this tactic to trick individuals into thinking the email is from a friend or colleague.

Understanding Whaling

Sometimes hackers will target executives at a company rather than lower-ranking employees since this could mean easy access to company funds or other sensitive information. They can do this through both whaling and phishing emails. In these instances, it’s always best to avoid discussing any company information until you’ve verified that this individual is who they claim to be.

Must-Know Ways To Protect Yourself

As far as phishing scams go, it’s always best for you and your employees to protect your identity in as many ways as possible. By looking into tips for increasing data security, you lower your chances of getting hacked while also strengthening your cybersecurity. Protect yourself by:

• Setting logins to multi-factor authentication

• Downloading an antivirus software

• Regularly backing up your data

Other scams, like pop-up phishing, may trick you into installing a virus or allowing a hacker access. By downloading antivirus software, you prevent your computer from getting infected.

Understanding the tips to recognize and avoid phishing scams is as important as communicating them to your staff, so hold a meeting to ensure everyone is on the same page. When everyone knows how to react to and report phishing attempts, protecting your cybersecurity becomes easier.