Raise your hand if you've never received a phishing email, not hypothetically, but literally raise your hand. I have a good reason for not asking those who have received phishing emails to raise their hands – I don't want to waste your time or energy, and I genuinely believe no one will need to raise their hand in this scenario.

If you did raise your hand, I regret to inform you that you've likely been scammed. What you believed to be a legitimate email from your bank, ISP, doctor, pharmacist, accountant, or favorite online store was actually a disguised phishing email. Don't take it personally; that's exactly how phishing works! To help you stay safe, we've compiled this blog on How to Prevent Phishing and protect yourself and your business.

What is a Phishing Mail?

A phishing mail is an email in disguise, also known as a spoofed mail. It pretends to come from a trusted source, such as your bank, social media site, or even your own company. The message may sound legitimate, like notifying you of a hacked account, a compromised mailbox, or requiring payment authorization.

For instance:

"Click here to reset your password."
"Open the attached PDF."
"Confirm your login information to proceed."
Clicking on such links or opening attachments can be harmful. Even without providing your credentials, there's a high chance malware will be installed, monitoring your activities and accessing your personal information. Cybercriminals may then breach your company's platforms or gain access to your accounts, sending out further phishing emails to people in your address book, making it seem like the emails come from you. Moreover, if they gain access to your banking details, the consequences could be devastating.

Now that we know what phishing is, let's explore how to prevent it and protect your work environment.

How to Prevent Phishing Mail?

The impact of a phishing email, both personally and professionally, can be severe. However, there are steps you can take to avoid falling victim to phishing and minimize the damage if you inadvertently open a phishing link or attachment. Here are six simple steps to prevent phishing:

1. Think Before You Click!
With the influx of emails daily, opening them can become a mindless task. Unfortunately, phishers exploit this behavior. They send emails pretending to be from well-known institutions like FNB, Standard Bank, or ABSA, hoping you'll click without a second thought if you're their customer.

To prevent phishing and spoofing, it's crucial to pause before clicking any links or attachments. Take a few extra seconds to verify the sender's address. Check if it matches the usual email address of the institution. Most legitimate companies won't ask you to enter sensitive information on a website through an email. If you receive such a request, it's best to delete the email.

2. If You're Unsure, Check!
Phishing emails can appear extremely convincing with logos and formats similar to genuine communications. When uncertain about an email's authenticity, don't reply to it. Instead, directly contact the company through official channels to confirm whether they sent the email. Avoid using any contact details provided in the suspicious email.

3. Keep Yourself Up to Date and Informed
Phishing emails are sent to millions of people daily, and similar scams resurface frequently. You can learn from others' experiences by staying updated on the latest phishing techniques. Knowing what to look out for will better prepare you to handle any phishing attempts.

4. Make Sure Your Anti-Virus is Updated
Having anti-virus software is essential in preventing attackers from installing malware on your devices. However, keeping your anti-virus up to date is crucial. Regular updates ensure your software is equipped to detect and stop new threats effectively.

5. Use Multi-Factor Authentication
While it's essential to prevent phishing attempts, attackers can be sophisticated. Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) provides an extra layer of protection. MFA requires two or more security measures to access online platforms, making it more difficult for attackers to breach your systems.

6. Backup, Backup, Backup
To minimize the impact of a successful phishing attack, ensure you have multiple backups and copies of your personal and professional data stored in the cloud. This way, even if an attacker gains access and compromises your data, you can restore it from backups, reducing potential damage.