The internet has brought us countless wonderful gifts, and we wouldn't say no to extra convenience! However, with useful things like these, there also come some dangers. Scams and phishing attacks, for instance.

Scammers are constantly getting smarter and quicker, and their strategies can become so sophisticated that even the savviest among us would have difficulty figuring out what's happening.

Grammar errors and spelling mistakes? Typical. But sometimes, they also conduct close observations of our accounts and cunningly mimic trusted accounts. Yikes.

The good news is, if you happen to be aware of the signs of a fraudulent contact and you've detected one, it's not too late to put a halt to a potentially disastrous situation.

The bad news is that if it all looks legitimate, it only takes a few moments for us to fall victim to these fraudsters.

There’s still a way out of falling victim to certain scams. Credit: Shutterstock.

So, what should you do to safeguard yourself and your data if you've just clicked on a phishing link?

First of all, remember the most vital thing, members: do not provide any additional information about yourself.

Even if they offer an opportunity after falling for a phishing trap, it's best not to share anything like bank details, usernames, passwords, or whatever else the email requests.

Your next step should be to disconnect your device from the internet. Do this immediately by unplugging the network cable or switching on aeroplane/ WiFi mode.

After that, it's time to back up your data so you won't lose your photos, videos, and documents if the worst-case scenario happens. External hard drives, USB sticks, or online data storage are a few ways you could save those precious memories of yours.

Now, if your device is potentially compromised, you should run a malware and threat scan using trusted antivirus or anti-malware software. Remain inactive on the machine while the antivirus is still running. If you're uncertain, reach out to your professional security provider for expert opinion.

Following that, you may consider doing a factory reset. This can help delete the lurking malware; however, be warned that it will wipe out all your local data. Yes, you read it right—there's no turning back once you've clicked that factory reset button. So, make sure you save all your data beforehand!

Take some time to change all your passwords, too.

This is especially important if the malicious email asks for an account's username and password. Create strong passwords (or passphrases) that are unique for each account and change them every year.

We recommend that you also immediately contact your respective local bank or financial institution so that they can freeze your card in case fraudsters manage to obtain access to your financial resources.

To prevent future problems, it's a good habit to review your logs every now and then for any suspicious activities or discrepancies. Identify any new devices that are logged in without your permission, and be sure to immediately log them out.

Are you worried that your scammed account may have caused similar scams to be sent out from your email address to the people in your contact list? Don't fret!

Simply call or alert your family, friends or service providers about what happened and ensure they do not click on any weird links, especially if they are out of the blue.

Key Takeaways

• Phishing scams are often difficult to spot and can result in significant damage, including data theft or remote control over devices.
• Tips after clicking a phishing link include not providing any further information, disconnecting the device from the internet, backing up data, and running a malware scan.
• Other steps that can be taken include considering a factory reset, resetting passwords, contacting banks and authorities, spotting any changes in online accounts, checking for unrecognised devices, and notifying contacts about the scam.
• Maintaining a proactive approach towards personal cyber security, such as using anti-malware software, unique passwords for online services, and regular monitoring of online activity, is fundamental in safeguarding against phishing threats.

We should all be cautious and vigilant in order to deter any online attacks. Though they may be tough to spot, having the right knowledge to know what to do in such scenarios can help us protect ourselves from digital intruders.

We hope you found this article helpful and informative, members! Do you have other tips and advice to add? Share them with us in the comments below!

 

[Bridgit]

Whipping out the ethernet cable or shutting down the router and modem - normally fixes the intrusion then run your anti virus and scanning usually is all you have to do.
My husband got hit with the Microsoft hack scam a view years ago and I pulled out the ethernet cable and severed the connection - similar event hit me about 6 months ago - I just stood up and hit the off switch for the modem and router and dropped them off.
I should have added that you don't have to click onto a dodgy link - it can come in at you in the course of your usual online activities as it could come in thru a side ad or image.

 

[Pat T]

The internet has brought us countless wonderful gifts, and we wouldn't say no to extra convenience! However, with useful things like these, there also come some dangers. Scams and phishing attacks, for instance.

Scammers are constantly getting smarter and quicker, and their strategies can become so sophisticated that even the savviest among us would have difficulty figuring out what's happening.

Grammar errors and spelling mistakes? Typical. But sometimes, they also conduct close observations of our accounts and cunningly mimic trusted accounts. Yikes.

The good news is, if you happen to be aware of the signs of a fraudulent contact and you've detected one, it's not too late to put a halt to a potentially disastrous situation.

The bad news is that if it all looks legitimate, it only takes a few moments for us to fall victim to these fraudsters.

View attachment 29452

There’s still a way out of falling victim to certain scams. Credit: Shutterstock.

So, what should you do to safeguard yourself and your data if you've just clicked on a phishing link?

First of all, remember the most vital thing, members: do not provide any additional information about yourself.

Even if they offer an opportunity after falling for a phishing trap, it's best not to share anything like bank details, usernames, passwords, or whatever else the email requests.

Your next step should be to disconnect your device from the internet. Do this immediately by unplugging the network cable or switching on aeroplane/ WiFi mode.

After that, it's time to back up your data so you won't lose your photos, videos, and documents if the worst-case scenario happens. External hard drives, USB sticks, or online data storage are a few ways you could save those precious memories of yours.

Now, if your device is potentially compromised, you should run a malware and threat scan using trusted antivirus or anti-malware software. Remain inactive on the machine while the antivirus is still running. If you're uncertain, reach out to your professional security provider for expert opinion.

Following that, you may consider doing a factory reset. This can help delete the lurking malware; however, be warned that it will wipe out all your local data. Yes, you read it right—there's no turning back once you've clicked that factory reset button. So, make sure you save all your data beforehand!

Take some time to change all your passwords, too.

This is especially important if the malicious email asks for an account's username and password. Create strong passwords (or passphrases) that are unique for each account and change them every year.

We recommend that you also immediately contact your respective local bank or financial institution so that they can freeze your card in case fraudsters manage to obtain access to your financial resources.

To prevent future problems, it's a good habit to review your logs every now and then for any suspicious activities or discrepancies. Identify any new devices that are logged in without your permission, and be sure to immediately log them out.

Are you worried that your scammed account may have caused similar scams to be sent out from your email address to the people in your contact list? Don't fret!

Simply call or alert your family, friends or service providers about what happened and ensure they do not click on any weird links, especially if they are out of the blue.

Key Takeaways

• Phishing scams are often difficult to spot and can result in significant damage, including data theft or remote control over devices.
• Tips after clicking a phishing link include not providing any further information, disconnecting the device from the internet, backing up data, and running a malware scan.
• Other steps that can be taken include considering a factory reset, resetting passwords, contacting banks and authorities, spotting any changes in online accounts, checking for unrecognised devices, and notifying contacts about the scam.
• Maintaining a proactive approach towards personal cyber security, such as using anti-malware software, unique passwords for online services, and regular monitoring of online activity, is fundamental in safeguarding against phishing threats.

We should all be cautious and vigilant in order to deter any online attacks. Though they may be tough to spot, having the right knowledge to know what to do in such scenarios can help us protect ourselves from digital intruders.

We hope you found this article helpful and informative, members! Do you have other tips and advice to add? Share them with us in the comments below!

Today I got a message from Apple saying they had frozen my device for a safety alert and to ring Apple Support on the given number. Thought it wasn’t right. I then rang the local Apple shop so connected me to Support. They said it was phishing, took me through a couple of steps, deleted it and all good.