Ever receive an email from a friend that seemed suspicious, like it wasn’t really from them? Being aware that cybercriminals try to disguise as trusted sources helps you to protect yourself online.
I’m no expert in the art of the scam, but it seems that one of the most effective ways to run one is to disguise something fraudulent and harmful as something legitimate and desirable. In other words, to trick people by spoofing – pretending to be something familiar and harmless.
Online spoofing takes many forms. One example is phishing, where potential victims receive emails from supposedly known, reputable sources – the email address is “spoofed” to appear legitimate – asking for sensitive information. Another is fake but realistic looking websites – at “spoofed” web addresses – that ask for login information or credit card numbers, or that trick visitors into downloading malware.
The best way to protect yourself from online scams like these is to never click on mysterious links, keep your cybersecurity up to date, protect your passwords, and use your common sense. If something feels fishy, it probably is.
Stream safely.
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