How you can avoid being PHISHED.

Hi there!

I hope your week’s been soft like mine ??

In my last letter, I shared the major differences between the CyberGirls and the DigiGirls programs (click here to read up, if you missed it).

Ever heard about phishing? As promised, I’ll be telling you about phishing and would point out some ways you can avoid being a victim of phishing.

So, what is phishing? Phishing is simply the act of tricking an unsuspecting individual into disclosing sensitive personal information by claiming to be a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.

Cybercriminals often use emails or texts that contain links to fake websites where victims are asked to provide their login credentials and other details, which are then used to gain access to their accounts. In addition, such links might lead to websites that install malware on the victim’s device that is then used as a backdoor to access sensitive information without the victim noticing.

Phishing sites are cloned versions of popular websites such as Facebook, Gmail, Instagram, LinkedIn, your bank accounts, and other email services. Therefore, it is important for you as an internet user to be aware of phishing sites and acquire at least the basic knowledge needed to identify a phishing site or scam.

Below are some simple ways you can avoid being phished and stay protected:

1. Think - Anytime you feel fear, anger, desire, or strong emotions when reading an e-mail, pause. Ask yourself such questions as; does the e-mail come from someone I know? Was I expecting this e-mail? Are the requests being asked reasonable?
2. Emails & Phone numbers – You should only give out your email and phone number to people you trust. Avoid sharing such details on public platforms to reduce the chances of you being a target of phishing.
3. Unsolicited links and attachments – A good rule of thumb is never to click any link or open any attachment you didn’t explicitly ask for, If in doubt, contact the sender first (via phone call or some other means) to confirm the authenticity of the email.
4. Trusted platforms – Always ensure you are on a platform’s original site before inputting any personal information needed to log in.
5. Apps – Not all apps are trustworthy, so it is important to make proper research on any unknown app that has requested access to your mobile phone or has requested personal details.
6. SMS - Avoid messages that tell you about winning a lottery/or gift and ask that you click a link to claim or call a particular number to redeem your prize.

If you feel you might have fallen victim to phishing scams, it is important to contact the platform’s support and report the issue and get your login credentials or any information you may have provided the fraudster changed as soon as possible. Make sure you install all updates for your device and have a functional anti-virus.

Can you identify a Phishing email? Click here to test your phishing knowledge!

Side Gists

It is still placement season and more DigiGirls 1.0 and CyberGirls 1.0 beneficiaries have been given the opportunity to begin their careers in reputable organisations in Nigeria. If you are interested in having any of our alumni intern at your organization, please send an email to [email protected] stating your interest.

It’s time to say goodbye yet again. As always, it was fun writing to you. Look out for my next letter where I would be telling you about the different types of phishing.

Till then, stay well and remain cyber safe! ??

Yours truly,

Bolatito