Phishing Attacks: How They Work and How To Protect Yourself
Phishing attacks come into our email inboxes almost every day. Learn what they are, how they work and how to protect yourself. Learn how AI may be making phishing attacks even worse.
Comments: 17 Responses to “Phishing Attacks: How They Work and How To Protect Yourself”
Lawrence Simas
1 month ago
FIRST Rule : When in doubt, DON'T!!! <---- use this and you'll never get caught! Another good rule is to check it out by NOT using anything from the e-mail or text etc,, Call the company or person from a GOOd known source!! When in doubt, Check It Out!! Thanks Kind Sir!! ;-)
Sheldon
1 month ago
Thanks bunches
Caroline
1 month ago
Invaluable! Following this advice is a great way to avoid a lot of anguish and kicking-oneself. Thank you very much indeed for this, Gary
Phyllis Steele
1 month ago
Thanks. I appreciate these detailed reminders. And, please update with new info as the scams get more sophisticated. You're the best! I'm very grateful for your videos, and I'm happy to support you on Patreon.
Jim Terrinoni
4 weeks ago
Poignant and relevant information well presented. By the way, I like the fact that you delay the “ask” for the Patreon membership until later. Patreon membership is an important part of your service and people should not get used to knowing when the factual part of the video starts so they don’t scrub ahead.
Jeanne: Usually, if there is an unsubscribe link or a button appears at the top to unsubscribe, then yes. Real spammers don't bother with such things.
Louis Martin
4 weeks ago
It relates to the last comment of «unsubscribe» I have noticed that when you unsubscribe to a legitimate web site, you get a message that tells you that you have been unsubscribed and it will take effect in a few days. Clicking on unsubscribe of a scammer tells you to write your email address which is illogical since you got a email. I presume that putting your email address will have your email address sold to other scammers.
Louis: Not exactly. Most scammers will not have any unsubscribe link at all. Why would they bother? If they do it is just for appearances and maybe doesn't work, or takes you to the site of the real company and their unsubscribe page.
But your hypothesis doesn't hold up either: the scammer already has your email address. They don't need you to tell them what it is again.
If you think the email is a *scam* then don't do anything else other than delete the message. Don't click on any link, including an unsubscribe one. If the email just appears to be spam, then if it is real spam (unsolicited from a not-real company) then also just delete. If it is from a real company then use their unsubscribe link if you like. If unsure, just delete.
Sherrie V
3 weeks ago
I get more newsletters etc all the time - most that I never heard of. Now I will be afraid to unsubscribe, but I need to get rid of them without having to delete all the time. On low budget so all those monetized apps not helpful for me. hmmm ??
Sherrie: Don't be afraid to unsubscribe from them. Especially if you see that as a button at the top of Mail. But also look for the unsubscribe link in the newsletter if it is from a real company.
Cheryl F
3 weeks ago
Thanks for another great video, Gary. I’ve been forwarding “Paypal” phishing scams to the following email address that Paypal provided: phishing@paypal.com. Not sure if doing so helps Paypal track scammers more effectively, but at least Paypal is aware of the activity.
Kathy
3 weeks ago
Wonderful video Gary, thank you! If a scammer 'spoofs' an actual legitimate phone number that is actually saved in my contacts, will this spoofed number still ring through or be blocked? (I have silence unknown callers turned on). In other words, will the Apple device 'know' that the number is spoofed & send the scam call directly to voicemail? I wondered if this would happen for calls similar to a password manager not offering to fill your creds into a spam site? Thanks again. Kathy
FIRST Rule : When in doubt, DON'T!!! <---- use this and you'll never get caught! Another good rule is to check it out by NOT using anything from the e-mail or text etc,, Call the company or person from a GOOd known source!! When in doubt, Check It Out!! Thanks Kind Sir!! ;-)
Thanks bunches
Invaluable! Following this advice is a great way to avoid a lot of anguish and kicking-oneself. Thank you very much indeed for this, Gary
Thanks. I appreciate these detailed reminders. And, please update with new info as the scams get more sophisticated. You're the best! I'm very grateful for your videos, and I'm happy to support you on Patreon.
Poignant and relevant information well presented. By the way, I like the fact that you delay the “ask” for the Patreon membership until later. Patreon membership is an important part of your service and people should not get used to knowing when the factual part of the video starts so they don’t scrub ahead.
Phyllis: And thanks for your support!
Thanks for the many reminders Gary. Excellent video.
Great info. I have a separate email account for my "hobbies," etc. and have been inundated with random emails lately. Is it safe to unsubscribe?
Jeanne: Usually, if there is an unsubscribe link or a button appears at the top to unsubscribe, then yes. Real spammers don't bother with such things.
It relates to the last comment of «unsubscribe» I have noticed that when you unsubscribe to a legitimate web site, you get a message that tells you that you have been unsubscribed and it will take effect in a few days. Clicking on unsubscribe of a scammer tells you to write your email address which is illogical since you got a email. I presume that putting your email address will have your email address sold to other scammers.
Louis: Not exactly. Most scammers will not have any unsubscribe link at all. Why would they bother? If they do it is just for appearances and maybe doesn't work, or takes you to the site of the real company and their unsubscribe page.
But your hypothesis doesn't hold up either: the scammer already has your email address. They don't need you to tell them what it is again.
If you think the email is a *scam* then don't do anything else other than delete the message. Don't click on any link, including an unsubscribe one. If the email just appears to be spam, then if it is real spam (unsolicited from a not-real company) then also just delete. If it is from a real company then use their unsubscribe link if you like. If unsure, just delete.
I get more newsletters etc all the time - most that I never heard of. Now I will be afraid to unsubscribe, but I need to get rid of them without having to delete all the time. On low budget so all those monetized apps not helpful for me. hmmm ??
Sherrie: Don't be afraid to unsubscribe from them. Especially if you see that as a button at the top of Mail. But also look for the unsubscribe link in the newsletter if it is from a real company.
Thanks for another great video, Gary. I’ve been forwarding “Paypal” phishing scams to the following email address that Paypal provided: phishing@paypal.com. Not sure if doing so helps Paypal track scammers more effectively, but at least Paypal is aware of the activity.
Wonderful video Gary, thank you! If a scammer 'spoofs' an actual legitimate phone number that is actually saved in my contacts, will this spoofed number still ring through or be blocked? (I have silence unknown callers turned on). In other words, will the Apple device 'know' that the number is spoofed & send the scam call directly to voicemail? I wondered if this would happen for calls similar to a password manager not offering to fill your creds into a spam site? Thanks again. Kathy
Kathy: It would ring through as there is no way for your iPhone to know. But the chances of that are astronomical.
Thanks Gary, that does make sense. K