How to Respond to a Phishing Attack
How to Respond to a Phishing Attack
Phishing is a common type of cybercrimal attack in which a victim is approached via email, phone, or text message by someone posing as a reputable individual or organization in order to obtain sensitive information, passwords, credit card numbers or other resources. Criminals frequently use the information they obtain to steal money, intellectual property, or a person’s identity.
Phishing attacks are far more common than you might think, so if this has happened to you, you’re not alone. Stay cool and understand that there are steps you can take to better position yourself as you deal with this difficult situation.
Keep Calm
Don’t be too hard on yourself if you fall victim to a phishing attack. They’ve gotten more sophisticated with every passing day. You’ll bounce back from this and you’ll learn from this experience. Take it one step at a time, and you’ll soon be able to put this behind you.
Have Your Computer Checked for Malware
Reaching out to your IT support team to have your system properly examined for malware or viruses is a good place to start. An experienced IT service provider will have navigated these waters before, and will do what is necessary to ensure that the problem is safely resolved.
New Passwords
Change all your passwords right away. All of them. Many phishing attacks work by tricking visitors into thinking they’re visiting a trusted website, such as a social media account or a bank account, in order to steal their login credentials. This information can then be used by attackers to get access to your other accounts.
Take the time to change your login credentials to prevent the offender from causing more harm, and don’t use the same username and password for all of your online accounts. The attacker will have an easier time stealing your identity and accessing your funds if you do.
Protect Yourself from Future Phishing Attacks
There are many things to learn from this experience. This is an excellent opportunity to learn how to respond to a phishing attack from your mistakes and harden your IT security posture with 2FA and next-generation security technologies. Contact JENLOR today to take your first steps towards making this phishing experience your last.