WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FALL FOR A PHISING ATTACK?

 NOTIFY IT SUPPORT

FIRST, DISCONNECT YOUR COMPUTER FROM THE INTERNET AND LET IT SUPPORT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. THEY'LL PROBABLY WANT TO RUN A COMPLETE SCAN OF YOUR SYSTEM. DO NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE ON THE COMPUTER UNTIL THE SCAN IS COMPLETE AND IT GIVES YOU THE GREEN LIGHT. IF THE PROGRAM PICKS UP ON ANY SUSPICIOUS FILES OR APPLICATIONS, IT WILL TAKE CARE OF CLEANING AND RESTORING YOUR DEVICE.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION

THE DIGITAL AGE ALLOWS FOR UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF CONVENIENCE AND EASE OF COMMUNICATION. HOWEVER, IT ALSO INCREASES VULNERABILITIES TO SCAMS AND THEFT. IT IS BEST PRACTICE TO ALWAYS ERR ON THE IF YOU DO NOT FALL VICTIM TO A PHISHING SCAM OR HACK, REGULARLY

SIDE OF CAUTION AND TO SIMPLY

DELETE EMAILS THAT SEEM OFF.EVEN

UPDATE PASSWORDS AND CREDENTIALS JUST TO PLAY IT SAFE.

SET UP FRAUD ALERTS

IF THE SCAM COMPROMISED YOUR BANKING INFORMATION, CONTACT ONE OR ALL THREE OF THE MAJOR CREDIT BUREAUS (EQUIFAX, EXPERIAN AND TRANSUNION) TO SET UP A FRAUD ALERT FOR THE NEXT 90 DAYS. THIS WILL HELP PREVENT A SUCCESSFUL HACKER FROM USING YOUR IDENTITY OR OPENING ACCOUNTS IN YOUR NAME. A MORE PRUDENT STEP IS TO FREEZE CREDIT LINES UNTIL NEEDED. THIS REQUIRES GOING THROUGH ALL THREE BUREAUS.

CHECK ACCOUNTS REGULARLY

SETTING UP AUTOMATED FRAUD ALERTS WILL HELP PROTECT YOU FROM FURTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE PHISHING SCAM HOWEVER, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT INDIVIDUALS DETECT FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY BY DILIGENTLY CHECKING THEIR OWN ACCOUNTS. FINANCIAL, EMAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS BECOME ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE AFTER A PHISHING ATTACK.

INCREASE CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS TRAINING

YOU CAN BE CAREFUL AND STILL BECOME THE VICTIM OF A PHISHING SCAM, BUT KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE WILL INCREASE YOUR SUCCESS AT RECOGNIZING A POTENTIAL ATTACK. ONCE A YEAR SECURITY TRAINING IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO TEACH SECURE BEHAVIOR AND KEEP IT TOP OF MIND. GET STARTED WITH ONGOING SECURITY TRAINING THAT INCLUDES SIMULATED PHISHING TESTS TO HELP EMPLOYEES BECOME LESS LIKELY TO BECOME VICTIMS.

CHANGE YOUR CREDENTIALS

MALWARE MAY BE USED AS A VEHICLE TO HARVEST PERSONAL DATA INCLUDING USERNAMES AND PASSWORDS. MAKE SURE TO CHANGE CREDENTIALS ESPECIALLY ON SENSITIVE SITES USED FOR BANKING, EMAIL, SOCIAL MEDIAL OR ANYWHERE THAT STORES PERSONAL DATA. DON'T FORGET YOUR WEB BASED SOFTWARE PLATFORMS THAT YOU USE FOR WORK WHICH MAY STORE SENSITIVE COMPANY INFORMATION. FURTHERMORE, DO NOT USE THE SAME USERNAME AND PASSWORD FOR ALL ONLINE ACCOUNTS. THIS ONLY MAKES IT EASIER FOR HACKERS AND WILL ONLY INCREASE THE IMPACT OF IDENTITY THEFT