Phishing, the most common method to steal passwords
what is the Phishing? It is a method used by cybercriminals to steal passwords, data or sneak in a virus. What they do is send a false link, which can be through an email or SMS. That link pretends to be something legitimate, like a transport company, Netflix, Facebook or whatever. When we enter that link, we are really accessing a page created only to steal data. If you enter your password, instead of entering that social network or whatever platform it is supposed to be, you will be sending the password to a cybercriminal.
The strategies are very diverse, but they tend to play a lot over time. They usually indicate that there has been a problem with your account, that you need to do something quickly, etc. The idea is that you can’t think too much, that you get nervous and end up clicking where you shouldn’t and in this way steal your password.
It’s a very old method, but it has been perfected over time. The point is that in recent times there has been a significant increase. The fact that mobile phones are increasingly used for almost everything has caused cybercriminals to launch many campaigns to try to steal passwords. Someone is more likely to click the wrong way on the phone than on the computer.
But a Phishing attack it can also cause you to download malware inadvertently. Maybe that link points to a malicious file and downloading it will launch a virus. This will put the security of the entire device at risk.
How to avoid attacks of this type
So what should you do to avoid Phishing attacks? Undoubtedly the most important thing is common sense. It is essential that you do not make mistakes, that you do not click on links that could become a fraud. You should always check well any SMS or e-mail you receive and not trust any page.
It is also important to have a good anti virus. Although it will not be able to protect you from password theft, at least when we are talking about Phishing, it can launch an alert in case you mistakenly download a file that is actually malware. Therefore, using a good antivirus is essential.
On the other hand, another key point is to install only official applications. Avoid installing programs that may have been maliciously modified. You should always download them from legitimate sources and make sure that they are not a scam. There are many fake apps on the internet and you should avoid them.
As you can see, the most used method to steal passwords is the Phishing. It is essential to take precautions and not make mistakes. The goal is to maintain security, prevent hacks, and check that everything works fine on your computer. Avoiding banking Phishing and other threats is very important.
