Phishing

Phishing – How to Avoid Getting Caught!

Posted on Thursday, August 13, 2015 by UVM Health Network - CVMC

Phishing is a cybercrime where the perpetrator attempts to trick the user into disclosing sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, credit card information or bank accounts. 

They accomplish this by posing as a trustworthy organization (Bank of America, Apple, UPS).  Recently we have seen an increase in the phishing attempts targeting our CVMC emails, so you are probably experiencing this increase at your home or business as well, and these scams are becoming more and more sophisticated and thus more difficult to identify as being fraudulent.

We’ve all seen these clever, eye-catching messages come through our emails:

  • “You have just won a FREE cruise!”
  • “Your package has shipped, please click HERE to track it!”
  • “Your account has been frozen, click HERE to login and verify your information.”

And just like that, you’ve been reeled into a phishing scam.

Luckily, there are commonalities found throughout most phishing emails.  Check out the video below by Javvad Malik, an Information Security Professional, which will highlight different ways to identify a phishing email.

Don’t Fall for Scam Emails (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh6ErCMaYz8)

One thing to remember is that phishing emails will almost always contain a message that requires an immediate response.  You will be led to believe that if you don’t respond, you could be put into a rather precarious situation.

Think twice!  One of the most important ways to keep your information safe online is to always think twice before divulging it, and ask yourself, “Why would they need this?” Legitimate companies will never ask you for information they already have.  Any links they want you to click should point back to the company’s corporate website.  You can check this by hovering your mouse over the link and making sure the company’s name is clear.  Legitimate businesses will go the extra mile to make it clear to customers that they are who they say they are.

Being vigilant, thinking twice and asking why will keep your online personal information safe!

Maureen McQuiggan, RN has worked at the hospital since 1993, and has been in Information systems for the past 17 years. She works closely with the IS team of technical experts to ensure that our network is secure and our patients’ and employees’ health information is protected.

Related Blog Posts