Phishing & Spyware




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Table Setting

What is Phishing


Phishing is when scammers use text messages or emails to trick people into giving them personal information. With that information (passwords, account numbers, Social Security numbers), scammers can get into emails and bank accounts or commit identity theft. Thousands of phishing attacks are sent out everyday. One year people lost $57 million to phishing scams

Phishing emails and texts can look as if a known or trusted company sent it. Phishing messages usually tell a story to trick people into clicking a link or opening an attachment. Opening phishing links/attachments can download harmful malware. Phishing attacks can harm the reputation of the companies that scammers are pretending to be. Phishing Emails’ Common Attributes include: Too good to be true, urgent messages, hyperlinks, attachments, unusual senders.




phishing

What to do if you responded to a phishing scam


-Go to IdentityTheft.gov if a scammer has your information

-If there is harmful malware on your computer, update your antivirus software to scan for viruses

-Report phishing messages to reportphishing@apwg.org and to ftc.gov/complaint or forward the text to SPAM (7726)












What is Spyware


Spyware is a type of software (malware) that gets installed on a device without the user knowing. It invades it, steals information and data & gives it to advertisers, data firms, or external users.

Any software is considered spyware if it is downloaded without the user’s authorization. Once it is installed, it monitors internet activity, tracks login information and spies. Often, the main goal is to obtain credit card numbers, banking info, and passwords. It's usually difficult to detect; first sign in a reduction in processor or network connection speeds. As for mobile devices, it slows down data usage and battery life.