Protect yourself from phishing ( From Microsoft.com )

Summary

Phishing emails are a sneaky way scammers try to trick you into revealing personal or financial information. Look out for signs like urgency, suspicious email addresses, poor grammar, unexpected attachments, or misleading links. If you spot any of these, don't act hastily. Instead, report the email to help block further attacks or delete it if you're unsure. Protect yourself by always double-checking links and attachments, and visit trusted sources directly to verify any suspicious messages.

Takeaways

• 😀 Phishing is a tactic used by scammers to trick individuals into revealing personal or financial information.
• 😀 A sense of urgency, such as threats of cancellation or rewards, is often used to pressure recipients into acting quickly.
• 😀 Always verify the email address—phishing emails may appear to be from companies you know, but the sender’s address may be incorrect.
• 😀 While email providers block many phishing attempts, some still make it through and often look unprofessional, with bad grammar or strange formatting.
• 😀 Never open unexpected email attachments, even if they appear to be from someone you trust. Always confirm their legitimacy first.
• 😀 Be cautious with email links—hover over them to see where they lead. If the link looks suspicious, avoid clicking on it.
• 😀 It’s safer to visit a company’s official website directly rather than clicking on a link in an email.
• 😀 Reporting phishing attempts helps block similar attacks from affecting others and can move the email out of your inbox.
• 😀 If you’re uncertain about an email’s legitimacy, delete it rather than risk compromising your security.
• 😀 For additional security information and tips, you can visit Microsoft's support page on phishing prevention.

Q & A

What is phishing?

Phishing is a fraudulent attempt to acquire sensitive personal or financial information by impersonating a trustworthy entity in electronic communication, often through deceptive emails.

What are some common features of phishing emails?

Phishing emails often create a sense of urgency, have suspicious sender addresses, contain poor grammar or formatting, include unexpected attachments or links, and try to manipulate the recipient into taking immediate action.

Why do phishing emails create a sense of urgency?

Phishing emails use urgency to pressure the recipient into acting quickly without thinking, often claiming that a service will be canceled, money is due, or a reward is available if they act immediately.

What should you check when you receive an email that seems suspicious?

Always check the sender’s email address carefully. Even if the email appears to be from a trusted company, the address might look unusual or incorrect.

Why do some phishing emails look sloppy or poorly formatted?

Phishing emails may have grammatical errors, strange formatting, or other issues because the attackers are trying to bypass email filters that catch fraudulent messages.

What should you do if you receive an unexpected email attachment?

Never open attachments you weren’t expecting. Even if the attachment seems to come from someone you know, confirm its legitimacy with them before opening it.

How can you check if a link in an email is safe?

Hover over the link with your mouse to preview its destination. If the link looks suspicious or unfamiliar, do not click on it.

What is the safest way to visit a company’s website from an email?

Instead of clicking on a link in a suspicious email, open your browser and type the company’s website address directly to ensure you are visiting the official site.

What should you do if you identify a phishing email?

You should report the phishing email to help block other potential attacks. If reporting isn’t possible, delete the email to avoid any risks.

Why is it important to report phishing emails?

Reporting phishing emails helps block future attacks and protects other users from falling victim to similar scams.