Recently we released a similar article on spotting scam/phishing emails. While that is the most common method for hackers to try and breach your defences it’s not the only one. Its important that you and your team members can identify scam text messages that will either be trying to get you to install malicious software on your mobile phone or get you to enter your usernames and passwords on fake logon websites.

The following were received by yours truly over the last week or so, so I thought I’d share these with
you to give you more of an idea of what to look for.

The messages are using our brain’s weaknesses against us, in this case our curious nature. They are trying to get you to click on the link. Naturally, you wouldn’t fall victim, but it never hurts to refresh your memory on some tell tale signs to be on the lookout for

  • Text message from an unknown source
  • You’re not expecting such a text message
  • The link is using a shortening service to hide the end destination making it harder to identify where it’s going to send you
  • Using curiosity and an urgent now as though you must respond immediately

So how can you stay safe?

  • Stop and ask someone else if its legitimate like us, better to be safe and sure
  • Ask yourself do you know who sent you the message, better yet if you do call them to verify they did actually send the message to you and its legitimate, its very easy for Caller ID to be faked
  • Ensure your firms mobile devices are being updated for both Apple iOS and Android OS as well as App updates, we have a service that can take care of this for you, taking another headache of your very stretched plate.
  • Ensure your systems are patched and up to date, if you’re a managed services client we take care of this for you
  • Engage Cyber Security Awareness Training for you and your staff, talk to us to find out more
  • Have a next generation firewall that’s configured correctly and receiving up to date threat information, those clients that have purchased firewalls from us already talk to us about updating settings to help stop known bad sites
  • Have Dark web monitoring setup to help you identify if a team member accidently enters their username and password into a phishing site and the information is available on the Dark Web for cybercriminals to access
  • Ensure your systems are backed up and stored offsite preferably in the “cloud” and that they are only accessible by those that need access to them
  • Ultimately you want to have a defence in depth strategy with your protections and ensure there are multiple layers in place like a castle, we are happy to provide a third-party assessment of your system to give you peace of mind that your defences are adequate

Call us today on 08 6244 2556 to learn how you can protect yourself from the ever-increasing risks of infection or submit the form at the top of the page to book an independent third-party assessment of your system.