Why are we talking about Phishing?

 

Phishing happens to everybody. It's a huge problem, and it’s getting bigger. In fact, a 2016 study reports that 91% of cyberattacks and the resulting data breach begin with a phishing email. These attacks are becoming more frequent and sophisticated. So much so that one online article states that 97% of people world-wide could not identify a sophisticated phishing attack. And, it's not just your work accounts at risk. These phishers will hack things like your banking, utilities, insurance information and even Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. 

 

How to tell if an email is legitimate:

	Hover over links to uncover the URL: Always check a URL before you click on the link—sometimes bad links are embedded into an email as a way to trick the reader.
	Check for poor grammar and spelling errors. Companies rarely send out messages without proofreading content, so multiple spelling and grammar mistakes can signal a scam message.
	Look for company contact information and brand accuracy. Most companies will have a brand identity that is recognizable in their emails. Look for logos, blurs, brand colors and contact information in the message.