Internet Users Recognise Phishing Emails. Or Do They?
With the recent spate of cyber attack that have initially spread by email, the question remains: how can email and internet users recognise malicious messages?
The results of the National Privacy Test by NordVPN show that almost 94% of all respondents would ignore an email request from their bank to provide personal information. However, the prevalence of phishing scams signals that more sophisticated baits are still very profitable for cyber criminals.
Is it safe to provide personal details if requested?
Almost 95 percent of all respondents would ignore an email request from their bank to provide personal information.
Kaspersky reports that Kaspersky Lab products blocked 51 million attempts to open phishing page in the first quarter.
According to Verizon's research conducted in 2016, 30 percent of all phishing emails get opened.
Top tips for spotting a phishing email
Don't just trust the senders display name - pay attention to the email address. If the domain looks suspicious (e.g. info@secure.apple.com), dont open the email.
Look for spelling and grammar mistakes. Serious companies don't normally pester their customers with emails that contain bad grammar and basic spelling mistakes.
Analyse at the greeting. Your bank or another legitimate institution would often address you with your full name. If you see a vague "Dear user" instead, remain vigilant.
Don't click on links - instead, hover your mouse on the button to see the destination URL. Check if it looks legitimate and, especially, if it contains the "https" part.
When in doubt, contact your bank or other institution over the phone or alternative email address and ask to confirm whether the email is legitimate.
