Go Phish!
According to a recent article on CNN.com, a study completed by American Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance, “phishing scams” fool 70% of internet users. Tatiana Platt, Senior Vice President of AOL, said, “What’s happening is that more and more people are actually engaging in transactions online that would generate e-mail traffic that the scammers are copycatting.” In addition, Platt said, “too many people still don’t have adequate computer security to guard against viruses, hackers and other threats.”
Federal Trade Commission tips to avoid getting “hooked” by phishing scams:
Don’t respond to emails asking for personal information. Call or write the company instead. If you want to repsond electronically, type in the company’s web address and proceed from there. Don’t use the link provided in the email.
Keep your antivirus and firewall software up-to-date. This can help protect you from unwanted intrusions or someone’s ability to track your computer usage.
Don’t email personal or financial information. Even if you are sending information to a trusted source, you risk it being accessed by hackers.