GMAIL account holders need to follow five rules to avoid potentially losing thousands of pounds & causing ‘weeks of stress’.
The summer months are full of ice-cream, outings, staycations and holidays, but it means people are more likely have their guard down.
7
7
IT Security firm FoxTech have warned that some Brits may be at risk of potentially losing thousands of pounds.
With the rise of artificial intelligence, scammers are using more realistic ways to catch people into being scammed.
The team at the company explained: “Scammers are fully aware that summer is a time when many people naturally relax their guard.
“Whether they’re caught up in the excitement of booking a last-minute getaway or simply waiting on a steady stream of online orders to arrive.
“Inboxes become crowded with enticing offers and seemingly routine updates, which is precisely what cybercriminals are counting on to slip past our usual caution.”
They have provided five ways in which you could avoid a terrible summer and have maximum enjoyment of the delights of summer.
Double-check before clicking
7
You must always hover over links to see where they really lead.
Some links might be phishing emails which aim to steal your data through what looks like an urgent message.
It is advised that you should be as cautious as possible of any message that is trying to rush you into taking action.
The team at FoxTech advised: “Inboxes become crowded with enticing offers and seemingly routine updates, which is precisely what cybercriminals are counting on to slip past our usual caution.
“Taking just a little extra time to examine the links you’re clicking on or to verify who has actually sent a message can ultimately prevent what might otherwise turn into weeks of stress, financial loss and disruption.”
Delivery updates
7
It is advised that you should verify delivery updates directly with any provider.
Many users get texts or messages about alleged delivery parcels, but these may be fake.
However, instead of clicking the link you should go to the courier’s official website itself to check for updates.
How to spot a dodgy app
Detecting a malicious app before you hit the ‘Download’ button is easy when you know the signs.
Follow this eight-point checklist when you’re downloading an app you’re unsure about:
- Check the reviews – be wary of both complaints and uniformly positive reviews by fake accounts.
- Look out for grammar mistakes – legitimate app developers won’t have typos or errors in their app descriptions.
- Check the number of downloads – avoid apps with only several thousand downloads, as it could be fake.
- Research the developer – do they have a good reputation? Or, are totally fake?
- Check the release date – a recent release date paired with a high number of downloads is usually bad news.
- Review the permission agreement – this agreement gives permission for the app to take bits of your data, and fake apps often ask for additional data that is not necessary.
- Check the update frequency – an app that is updated too frequently is usually indicative of security vulnerabilities.
- Check the icon – look closely, and don’t be deceived by distorted, lower-quality versions the icons from legitimate apps.
All of this information will available in both Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store.
Foxtech added: “Scams are evolving rapidly, and what might look like a harmless deal or a routine delivery text could end up draining your bank account or exposing your personal data.
“Taking a few extra seconds to verify a message can spare you weeks of stress and financial headaches.”
Research travel deals
7
Have you ever thought something is too good to be true? Well that’s because maybe it is!
Scammers like to entice you to click onto harmful links, and one of the ways they do so is through fake travel advert deals.
People could find themselves paying hundreds or even thousands of pounds for trips that simply don’t exist
The team at FoxTech
You are advised to check independent reviews of providers and to make sure you confirm website contact details before clicking on anything.
Many users are also advised to make sure you are making a booking through an official platform before you pay.
The IT firm warned: “People could find themselves paying hundreds or even thousands of pounds for trips that simply don’t exist, only to realise they’ve handed over sensitive personal and payment details to organised cybercriminals.”
Boarding passes.
7
A nightmare scenario, you board a plane and someone is sitting in your seat.
To avoid this, you should never post travel documents online, which includes boarding passes.
Make sure to keep your tickets private because the barcode on the ticket may contain personal information.
What is phishing?
HERE’s what you need to know:
- Phishing is a type of online fraud
- It’s typically an attempt to nab some of your data
- Phishing generally involves scammers posing as a trustworthy entity
- For instance, fraudsters could send you an email claiming to be your bank, asking for details
- Scammers can also set up fake websites that look like real ones, simply to hoodwink you
- Phishing can take place over email, social media, texts, phone calls and more
- The best defence against phishing is to be generally sceptical of weblinks and emails, especially if they were unsolicited
Multi-factor authentication
7
A second step of security can never hurt!
If you use multi-factor authentication, this will add extra protection to your account.
Even if your password does get stolen, this extra layer of verification makes things harder for scammers to access your account.
