If you have never heard of phishing attacks, know that these are ways of stealing data and private information over the internet.

Thus, those responsible for the cyber attack try to obtain card passwords and other information from you through false messages.

These messages typically appear to be sent from trusted sources, but this is not the case. So, stay tuned. Later we will show you ways to protect yourself from these fraudulent messages.

Well, the term comes from English and literally means “fishing”.

This happens because the thief prepares a false message, usually an email, which acts as bait and tries to lure you into stealing your information.

This type of cyber attack is the simplest. On the other hand, it is the most dangerous and effective. This happens because the attack takes advantage of our emotion.

Firstly, it is worth saying that phishing attacks usually seek to alarm us, instigate our curiosity or scare us.

The less we think rationally, the better for scammers, who take advantage of the heat of the moment.

So, you may receive an email from a famous store or government agency. Regardless, the sender usually appears trustworthy.

Thus, messages have an urgent nature. Furthermore, they may suggest serious consequences if the message is ignored.

Scammers may say you owe something, or that your data has been cloned. So, they ask you to click on a link and provide some information.

Most of the time, when you click on the supposed link, you are downloading malware onto your machine. And, consequently, this malware will steal your information or use your data for other harm.

In other words, with just one click you make with your mouse and you open all your data to scammers. Therefore, the most important thing is to always remain calm and analyze all the information before clicking on any link.

Furthermore, we will give you some tips on how to prevent phishing attacks and how to prevent them.

The dangers are varied. So, we list some harm that cyberattacks can cause:

There are a few types and variations of phishing. So, we are going to present some so that you can be aware and protect yourself from these cyberattacks.

These are the messages that are not specific. In other words, they are sent in large quantities to several people simultaneously.

Scammers pretend to be a famous company or brand. So people can believe they are true.

These are messages targeted at you specifically. They usually happen within companies.

Thus, scammers use information they find publicly to try to get the victim to make a payment or something similar.

This attack can be carried out by voice or SMS. Despite changing the means of attack, the technique is the same.

Scammers impersonate brands, large companies, banks and government agencies and try to obtain your data.

Furthermore, there are some ways to identify whether the message you received is fake or not. Check out how.

If you receive an email from a new or unknown sender, always check if they are trustworthy.

Normally, if the email you receive has grammatical or even spelling errors, be suspicious.

As we have already said, the most common way is to instigate the urgency of action. The message wants to force you to click immediately.

But, after all, how can we avoid falling for scams and keep our data safe? Here are some tips to stay safe!

Whenever you receive any type of email that seems suspicious, do not click on the links they provide. Instead, there is a very practical technique you can apply.

So, place your mouse over the link. Then, at the bottom of your browser, an address should appear.

So, check the code of this email address. So, make sure it matches the website or company that sent the message.

Another important action is: always check your email address. Remember that the domain must always correspond to the store or company that sent you the message.

But be careful, many domains are similar to the originals, precisely in an attempt to deceive you more easily.

Furthermore, you can find out what the official domain of a brand is and compare it with that of the message received.

Following the previous tip, if you received an email from a well-known company, but found the content suspicious, research the sender.

In other words, take the email address and put it in your browser. See if there are any reviews online about that sender.

Many times, other people have already notified and reported some email addresses for being fake!

Many of these scam messages ask you to share data and information. Furthermore, even phone phishing attacks can request important information.

These requests are always in a warning tone and are passed off as preventive measures against attacks. But remember, no company, bank or government agency asks for personal information such as passwords.

This last tip reinforces what has already been said, but, at the same time, reinforces the most important point. Never act on impulse. Take your time, research and investigate the content of the email and its sender.

If it's over a phone call, ask questions. Offer to call later and look for the number on a trusted website. There is little caution when it comes to avoiding phishing attacks!

Now that you know how to protect yourself and how to identify a phishing attack, how about understanding how to shop online safely? Enjoy the convenience of the internet without the headaches!