Common sense tells us to PAY ATTENTION in many situations: When we cross a busy street; when we are working with power tools; when we are walking down a dark alley at night; or using a knife. By the end of this article you will have a new one: Opening your email!
Social Engineering attacks are on the rise in recent years, so you’d better know more about them. They typically come in the form of an email that involves some type of psychological manipulation with the wording, graphics or both to trick you into believing the deception is real so you will comply.
You might receive a UPS delivery confirmation, or a bank deposit notice – “open the attached deposit slip” (Gee I wonder how much money I just got!). The criminals are getting VERY sophisticated at what works. Your job is to PAY ATTENTION and have security measures in place just in case you miss something.
Here are a few common Phishing ploys that work REALLY well:
IRS Refund Notices (sent out in May and June)
Court Notice to Appear
Email ads with believable but great buys on timely gifts (Mother’s day flowers for example)
Service cancellation of email, cable service if you don’t respond within 48 hours.
Confirm attachment for your package delivery
Notice of Payment
Invoice for work done (from a company you didn’t employ)
Remember, READING the email isn’t the problem. Clicking on the link or opening the attachment is usually the trigger. If you aren’t sure it came from a legitimate source, call the number YOU have for that company and verify the email was sent by them. Remember you must PAY ATTENTION!
There are specific layers of protection available to help keep you out of harm’s way. If you would like more information please contact Premier IT Support at (775) 276-5544 for a free initial visit. We look forward to answering your questions and helping you avoid these nasty assaults.
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