What to do if you click on a phishing link?

Phishing email

Phishing scams have become very common in recent years. The scam involves hackers tricking people into clicking on phishing hyperlinks to steal their personal data. These frauds are targeted at a large number corporate employees as well as people's personal email addresses every day.

It is important to know what to do if you click on a phishing hyperlink. Also, be aware of the risks associated with opening spam email messages that have spam links. What happens if you click on a phishing URL?

What happens if you click on a link within a spam email?

By clicking on a phishing link or opening an attachment, you risk infecting your device with malware such as viruses, spyware, or ransomware. The malware is hidden from the user's view so they don't know. This is why you need to act quickly. Don't panic. These steps can help stop or reduce damage.

What should you do if you click on a phishing link?

These emails are sophisticated and convincing, but there are some signs you might be dealing with phishing emails. You will never receive an email asking for personal information.

There are some things you can do immediately to protect yourself if you have accidentally clicked on a link that is phishing or downloaded malicious attachments.

Disconnect your device

It is crucial that you immediately disconnect your device from internet. Unplug your laptop or computer's internet WiFi to accomplish this. Go to Wi-Fi settings, disconnect from the current Wi-Fi network or turn off your router's power if you are connected via Wi-Fi. This will prevent malware spreading to other devices and prevent an attacker from accessing your device.

Backup files

Once you have disconnected your device from the Internet, you will need to backup your data. In the event of a phishing attack, data can be lost or deleted. Make sure you have backups of all sensitive information and personal assets, such as family photos and videos.

You can save data on an external hard disk, a USB flash drive or the cloud. You can have offline backups to ensure that your personal files are not lost in the event of cyberattacks.

Scanning system for malware

Next, you will need to scan your computer with anti-virus software. First, you must open the program and run a thorough system scan. You can ignore any error messages that say you cannot run the scan due to not being connected to the internet. Even if you aren't connected to the internet, you can still run a scan. It is important to not be connected to the internet as it increases the chance of malware spreading through the network.

You can allow your device to scan, but not interrupt the process. After the scan is complete, you will be notified if any suspicious files have been found and offered the option to either delete them or quarantine them. A trusted Anti-Virus software program can be used to scan your device. Professionals can also help you to make sure it is free from any infection.

Change your password

Phishing attacks are designed to steal usernames, passwords and sensitive information. Phishing links often contain malware that stores and harvests data to aid an attacker.

You should immediately change any personal information you have entered. All internet accounts including email, banking and social media will be affected.

Hackers can easily gain access to your data by using the same password to access multiple accounts. To add security, make each account's password unique. You can also use two-factor authentication to increase your security.

Two-factor authentication:

The two factor authentication can be done in a number of ways. Register for two factor authentication if it's available in your account. This will add an additional layer of security to your account. You will also be notified if hackers attempt to access your account.

Allow web content filtering

You should change your security settings to protect yourself from dangerous links if you click on a phishing email link. Online content screening should be turned on if phishing emails continue arriving in your mailbox. Your browser will block the malicious site from infecting you device even if you click on it accidentally. Web content filtering can be used to prevent phishing scams from happening.

Clear your browser data and turn off additional accounts

Clear your browser's cache and cookies. You should close any accounts you don't use. These accounts could be used by attackers as attack ports.

Report spam email

To avoid spam mails in your primary inbox, train your account spam filter by reporting spam email. The domains and emails that were used to phishing scams will be deleted. Instead, "Blacklist" lists will be created which will notify all mail service providers about the dangers and unwanted emails they have sent. The list of Blacklisted domains prevents such email from getting delivered to inboxes and makes sure they bounce.

How to protect yourself from Phishing Attacks

In addition to the rapid tips, you should also follow these steps:

Check that your security and software are up-to-date

Passwords should be difficult to guess.

You should change the passwords of any accounts that you suspect have been compromised.

Use different passwords for different accounts

Use two-factor authentication

Regularly backup your files to a safe backup device (ideally one that is not connected to your network).

Conclusion

Phishing emails are a serious but inevitable danger. It is best to be cautious and delete suspicious emails and text messages. A legitimate business or organization will not ask you for sensitive information via unsecure channels like email, text messaging, and pop-up messages. If the message is truly vital, the sender will attempt to reach you via established channels like phone or letter if possible.