SYRACUSE, N.Y. – July 22, 2010 — Phishing attacks threaten our Internet security and can be hard to detect. They can lead to identity theft, viruses, or the need for computer repair. To help protect your Internet security, RESCUECOM’s computer repair experts offer five simple tips for detecting phishing attacks.
1.) Avoid Action – Phishing attacks work when you take action. An email that requests information or features clickable links may be an attack against your Internet security. Legitimate emails include cut and past style links to help you avoid clicking. If there are only clickable links, the email is likely a phishing scam.
2.) Beware of Overly Technical Content – Phishers frequently include highly technical jargon in their emails to scare you into believing them. An email that discusses your Internet security in great detail, or sounds as if it was written by a computer repair technician, is probably a phishing attack. Legitimate businesses send out emails that can be read and understood by typical customers, not just computer repair specialists.
3.) Check the URLs – Phishing attacks violate your Internet security by providing links to apparently legitimate sites. Protect your Internet security by checking the URLs of all links. The URL is the address of a website, www. some bank.com for example. If you move the cursor over the link in an email, the URL that link connects to will be displayed at the bottom of the web browser. Make sure the URL corresponds to what it’s claiming to be. Otherwise, your Internet security may be at risk.
4.) Read Carefully – Emails from legitimate businesses are screened carefully, so mistakes can be signs of phishing. Many of these mistakes are small -spelling “computer repair” as “computer rapair”, for example – and hard to notice. Read carefully to protect your Internet security. A poorly written email is a sign of phishing.
5.) Verify – Many of us worry that phishing emails might be real. Overcome this fear by contacting the “sender” directly, by using an alternate web address or phone number. This will protect your Internet security, guard against viruses or the need for computer repair, and put your mind at ease. If you even suspect phishing, RESCUECOM’s computer repair specialists remind you to never click on an unverified link.
Phishing is a common Internet security threat. RESCUECOM’s computer repair experts recommend screening emails carefully and following these tips to protect your Internet security.
About RESCUECOM:
RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware or software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit http://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.
For More Information, Contact:
Josh Kaplan, President of RESCUECOM
973-851-4779
Jkaplan@rescuecom.com
###
