Most phishing scams could be avoided if only the victims were keen enough to scan a link they received before clicking on it. Malware distributors utilize links that they send mainly through email or text messages. Hence, to avoid falling victim to a phishing scam, ensure you check link virus presence before clicking on any link sent to you. This article explains practical ways to check for virus presence in a link and what to do if you click on a phishing link.
How to Check Link Virus Presence
Checking for the presence of a virus in a link is recommended to avoid falling victim to a phishing scam. You can do the following to confirm the actual and intended destination of a link.
1.Expand short linksExpanding short links reveals the proper and intended destination of a link. Malware distributors shorten links to hide the actual destination of a link. You can expand short URLs using link expansion solutions such as ChecShortURL to get the valid name of the website that the link will take you to.
Phishing scam often happens through links sent through emails and instant messages. Most phishing scam emails come with directions on what to do and the links to click on. Validate those links by typing your bank’s account on a browser and going directly there to confirm what is contained in the email message. You can even call your bank to verify the contents of the email.
3.Use URL decoding toolMalware distributors include weird strings of characters in a link, making you not decipher the actual destination and purpose of a link. They do that through URL encoding. To overcome that trick, utilize a URL decoding tool to know the exact contents of a link.
Steps to Take If You Clicked On Phishing Link
Sometimes you may accidentally click on a link that quickly redirects you to a suspicious website. Your mind quickly connects that that could be a phishing scam taking place. Under such circumstances, you must know what to do to protect your already compromised data and come back strong from the attack.
Suppose you are using your iPhone, computer, laptop, or any other android devices, and suspect to have clicked on a phishing link on an email or instant message. In that case, you can implement the following steps.
1.Disconnect your deviceImmediately you realize you have clicked on a potential phishing link, quickly disconnect your browsing device from the internet. Internet heightens phishing attacks by facilitating the spread of viruses and malware to your other devices within the network.
Thus, disconnection from the internet minimizes the probability of malware distribution. Moreover, cutting off the internet connection bars the malicious hacker from gaining access to your device and using your device to disseminate private information. Hence, internet switch off should be the first step if you suspect a phishing scam is underway.
2.Backup all your filesA phishing scam automatically compromises your critical files, which means losing them. However, you can quickly backup all files to ensure that you do not lose them altogether. You can back up your files using a USB drive or cloud.
Data backup ensures you can always retrieve your files and have them in good condition in the event of a phishing attack. Also, it prevents you from losing money to a ransomware attacker because you can always clean out your devices and upload your files afresh.
3.Amend username and passwordMalicious links, especially phishing, will direct you to a fraudulent website. Most times, links targeting your bank accounts will redirect you to an ostensibly bank’s website.
If you attempted entering your username and password and quickly realized that you are about to get scammed, promptly search your bank afresh in a different browser and amend your username and PIN. You can also alert your bank so that they can block any transactions from happening.
4.Scan your system for malwareIf you suspect to have clicked on a phishing scam link, you can run a quick scan of your system for malware. Utilize the anti-malware that you already have on your device. If you have not installed an anti-virus on your device, you can look for a trusted anti-malware provider online and benefit from their services.
Anti-malware such as Kaspersky is good and will provide you with a detailed scan report. It scans all files and will show whether your device is free of any virus or identifies an anti-virus and blocks it from harming your files and device.
5.Establish a fraud alertSetting up a fraud alert is essential because you are constantly warned of phishing attempts. It makes it impossible for a hacker to signup new accounts using your name. You can establish a fraud alert with either Experia, TransUnion, or Equifax that you can put on your credit account.
6.Make the Federal Trade Commission aware of the incidentReport the phishing incident to the Federal Trade Commission to get a stage-by-stage recovery strategy. Also, forward the phishing scam email sent to your email to spam@uce.gov together with the institution that was being impersonated, so that awareness can be made public for everyone to stay vigilant.
Conclusion
Clicking on suspicious links compromise your data. Malicious threat distributors like to use links to cause havoc. Hence, check the link virus presence before you can click on it. That ensures the maximum safety of your devices and critical data.
