The 5 Tips for Not Falling for Easter Scams - And Never Again

Phishing is the main method of attack by cybercriminals in Brazil. Our country is a benchmark for different methods of infecting victims or stealing sensitive data. In commemorative times, malicious activity grows by taking advantage of the ingenuity of many people, so let's list some points so you don't fall for any scam this Easter - maybe never again.

Links may also contain malicious files, malware, trojans, ransomwares etc.

First of all, you need to understand what phishing is. If you don't know, phishing is one of the oldest attack methods, as "half the job" is deceiving the computer or smartphone user. As a "fishery", the cybercriminal sends text stating that you have won some prize or money (or is owing some value) and usually a companion link to resolve the situation. Phishing can also be characterized as fake websites that ask for visitor data. The trap happens when you enter this link and enter your sensitive data - there is usually a fake bank / ecommerce website to deceive the victim - such as full name, phone number, social security number and bank account numbers.

Note that the link present in such a scam does not necessarily have to lead the user to a fake site. Links may also contain malicious files, malware, trojans, ransomware, etc.

Below you will find the main points to watch out for during the holidays - and for the rest of the year.

easter

Watch out for Easter!

There is no miracle

$ 100 product for $ 10? Five 1kg Easter Eggs for $ 3.50? Cheap flights? Be suspicious, buddy. Cybercriminals set up fake and absurd promotions just to arouse the curiosity of the victim. Official images and even website copies are made to fool people interested.

  • If you have received any promotion on WhatsApp, email or social networking, and are interested, do the following: Go to the official website of the company you are offering and look for more information. Another tip? Go to the official company profile on Facebook or Twitter and see if the promotion also happens there.

Do not fill in your data or make exchanges

Clicked on a promotion link and landed right on a signup page without further explanation? Be suspicious. Do not fill in full name, ID, social security number, address, telephone number and much less bank details.

  • Another tip? Physical phishing can also occur at subway and bus doors. Do you know those guys who ask for your data while offering you some magazines? Pass away .

It is also very common to exchange coupons and gift cards from stores. Usually, a lot of private data is exchanged for a person to get the discount. Stay away.

Can't believe anything?

As we mentioned earlier, you can believe in official company pages and websites.

In addition, there are dozens of apps for coupons and promotions, including store apps, brands and even market networks.

  • To download official apps, always do it through Google Play if you have it on Android or the App Store (iTunes) if you have an iPhone or iPad.

Don't be unprotected

It may sound like boring chat, but if you are not totally comfortable with suspicious links, it costs nothing to have a quality antivirus installed on your smartphone or computer.

  • Today, both Google Play and the Apple App Store have quality free versions - and you can find out which ones by clicking here.

Click the link, fill in the data, now what?

Damage Containment: This is linked to your bank statement, especially if the data you provide relates to your bank account. Check that no files have been downloaded to your PC or mobile phone - if so, look for the file for deletion and run an antivirus.

Watch out for more scams: With your lost data, custom malicious campaigns can be performed on your behalf.

The 5 tips to not fall for Easter scams - and never again via TecMundo