The greatest evolution in techniques Phishing is the technique of spear phishing. No, it's not a sport, it's a scam and you are the target.
The spear phishing technique sends an email that looks like it's coming from someone or a company you know. However, this is not the case. It comes from hacker criminals who want your credit card numbers and bank account, codes, and financial information on your computer. Learn how to protect your computer.
Spear Phishing Techniques
Email from a "Friend"
Spear phishers do it thanks to intimacy. He knows your name, your email address and some things about you. The greeting of the message will probably be personalized: "Hello George" instead of "Dear sir." The email may refer to a "mutual friend". Or in some recent online purchase you have made. Because the message seems to come from someone you know, you may be less careful and give them the information they are asking for. While in the case of a business that you know and is asking for your immediate response, you can make the mistake before you think about it.
They use your presence on the Web against you
How can you become a spear phisher? From the information you make available online through your computer or smartphone. For example, criminals can scan various social pages and track down your page, your email address, your friends list, and a recent post where you tell your friends about the new camera you bought online. Using this information, a spear phisher can be presented as a friend, send you an email, and ask for your password for your photos page. If you reply by giving the code, they will try to use this code and several variants to access your account at the online store you mentioned. If they can find the correct code, they will use it to charge you. Otherwise, the spear phisher may use the same information to represent an e-shop representative and ask you to reset your password or verify your credit card number. If you give this information, criminals will hurt you financially.
Keep your secrets secret
How safe you are and your information depends on how much you pay attention. Think of your online presence well. How much information about you is available freely, which could be used to create a scam against you? Your name; The e-mail address? The names of your friends? Your friends' e-mail addresses? Are you, for example, a member of a popular social networking site? Have a look at what you publish. Have you published things you do not want to know the scammers? Did you post something on a friend's page that reveals too much about you?
Passwords that do not work
Think about the passwords you use. Do you only use one code or easy variations of the same code? You shouldn't do any of these, as this makes it easier for fraudsters to gain access to your personal financial information. Each password for each website you visit should be truly different. The best result is achieved by using random letters and numbers. Change passwords regularly. The software Internet security and the operating system you use can help you remember your passwords.
patches, updates and security software
When you get notification from software makers about available updates, do so right away. Most updates for operating systems and browsers include security patches. Your name and e-mail address may be all that a hacker needs to penetrate a security hole in your system. Of course, it goes without saying that you should always have protection from online protection software, which should always be up to date.
Get smart
If you receive an e-mail message from a “friend” asking you to disclose a password or other information, call or send a message (with a separate e-mail message) to that friend to make sure they have actually contacted you. The same applies to messages from banks and businesses. In the first place, real businesses would never send an email asking you to reveal passwords or account numbers. If you believe the message may be genuine, call the bank or business to confirm. Otherwise visit their official website. Most banks have an email address to which you can forward suspicious emails for verification.
And always remember: Never give yourself a lot of personal information via the internet, as you never know who can use this information against you. Nor in what way.
Spear Phishing: Tips from Norton
