7 Best Technical Ways to Counter Phishing Scams

7 Best Technical Ways to Counter Phishing Scams

Phishing scams have been around since the inception of the internet and will most likely be around for a long time to come. Scammers continue to devise creative ways to trap unsuspecting internet users with relative success. Some cybercriminals have made massive profits from it — enough incentive for the scamming to continue.

Fortunately, there are ways to counter phishing scams. Here is a run-down of the most effective methods to defeat phishing scams:

1. Think before you click

Scammers are desperately hoping you will click on that phony link without giving it much thought. You won’t fall into their trap if you stop for a moment to think before clicking on the link or downloading seemingly genuine software. Ask yourself how the unknown contact found your email address and why they would want to push free software to you.

2. Keep informed about new phishing techniques

Cybercriminals are devising new tricks every day, hoping to trap as many victims as possible. Some of these tricks include a fake ad with outrageous potential benefits, a pop-up informing you about the suspicious presence of malware on your device, urging you to install anti-malware urgently, and a link that redirects to a lookalike website mimicking global brands. It would be best if you were on the lookout for such baits, as they are meant to trick you into clicking on a suspicious link.

3. Install an anti-phishing toolbar

You could easily repulse phishing scams by installing reliable anti-malware toolbars on your browser. This is because your browser presents a window through which hackers may attempt to get to your data. Also, most phishing attempts will come up when you surf the web. These toolbars will prevent these attempts from getting to your system.

4. Update your browser

It is always advisable to keep your browser up to date. Be sure to have the latest version at all times because a new version comes with better security features and with patches that seal previously undiscovered loopholes. Hackers often fish for these loopholes, so they can exploit them to get to their victims. You could also ensure that you block pop-ups from unrecognized sites or those websites you have no business with.

5. Use premium firewalls

Premium firewalls may be expensive, but they are a worthy sacrifice to make to secure your personal data and keep your systems safe. This is not to take anything away from free firewalls or the default ones that come with your operating systems, but there is just so much they can do to protect you from being breached. Don’t gamble with your business continuity; invest in a premium reliable firewall.

6. Be careful with pop-ups

Phishing scammers will use any means to grab your attention — including incessant pop-ups. You could exercise due diligence when handling pop-ups. Still, there’s no way of telling genuine ones from copycats out to trick you into clicking on a link and filling out your personal information, such as email addresses and bank details. The best way is to avoid any pop-up altogether. Most reputable websites will only deploy a pop-up from their website, not anywhere else on your browser.

7. Don’t share personal data on the internet

No matter how enticing it may be, don’t give any personal information on the internet. A pop-up urging you to fill out your name and email address should be treated with suspicion. Stay away from any redirection that takes you to a site requiring your financial details.

How Palindrome Consulting can help

Scammers are becoming more creative by the day, and there is always a chance they may trap you. You could complement your safety measures and strengthen your IT security by partnering with us for efficient, reliable, and professional cybersecurity services.

Contact us today for more details.