Being too much in a hurry to think cautiously
While the hackers, virus makers and security breaches continue to improve the level of their squalid skills, the real problem still lies in the hands of the individual user who neglects to take simple steps of precaution.
Alliant is providing a new Anti-Virus technology called Webroot, much advertised as best-in-class. It is a great tool that will tighten the security of your business on an immediate ongoing basis. But even Webroot is no match for the careless user who succumbs to a phishing attack.
Phishing is “the act of posing as a familiar, trustworthy entity in electronic communications and using that familiarity and trust to get recipients to release confidential information, such as passwords and bank account numbers,” according to a recent HP article on the present danger of phishing.
A recent study discovered that 70% of IT professionals experienced phishing attacks on a weekly basis. All it takes is one employee too much in a hurry to think who clicks carelessly.
Here are six brief cautions. Check out the article for further detail:
- Unusual sender address – note the name for discrepancies.
- Unusual URL – if it seems a little off, it is.
- Lacks personalization – phishing generally can’t personalize.
- Misspellings – the more misspelled, the more certain it’s not right.
- Urgent action – immediate calls to action are suspicious.
- When in doubt – don’t download or click on attachments or links; don’t reply, don’t call any number.
So convincing you clicked? Change your password. Call your bank. Notify Alliant. Realize that if Target, Anthem and Sony can fall victim to these attacks, you might too. Keep calm and recover.