9 tips to protect yourself against (mobile) phishing

The rise of phishing

Think twice before clicking on anything, especially when you’re on a mobile device. One wrong click can have very unpleasant consequences. Mobile phones, in particular, usually lack proper protection. Research has shown it’s high time to beef up your company’s protection against digital scamming. For instance, 2/3 of data traffic is mobile nowadays. And every year we see an 85 % increase in phishing attacks, more and more targeting mobile traffic.

How to prevent phishing?

Declare war on phishing. Make your IT manager and all users aware of the risks. Hand them the following tips:

1. Pay attention to the language and the graphic design

Back in the day, fake emails were full of spelling mistakes. Today, even cybercriminals have discovered the benefits of a good spell checker. Nevertheless, many phishing emails can still be recognised with a critical look at the language in the email. Logos, pictures and the general graphic design may also set off a few warning bells. 

2. Manage your passwords carefully

Choose strong passwords and don’t use the same password over and over again. A practical tool for this is a password manager such as 1Password. 

3. Check the link

Always check where a link leads before you click on it. You’ll know in advance whether you’re being redirected to a ‘real’ or a ‘criminal’ website.

4. Check the sender’s email address 

Make sure the sender is using an official email address.

5. Never fill in secret codes or personal details

Phishing messages often ask the recipient to check or verify something. This often involves entering personal details and codes. Never comply with such a request.

6. Look beyond your mailbox

Phishing messages are no longer only sent by email: nowadays they also use links on the internet, social media or WhatsApp. 

7. Check the URL  

Use the URL to determine whether or not a website is safe. Is there a green padlock in front of the URL or does it start with https://? Then the URL is safe.

8. Be absolutely certain

Log into your company application via a secure connection (mobile data, APN, VPN, your usual WiFi connection, etc.). Do you have doubts about a connection, email, link or attachment? Then do not open it. Ask an expert for advice instead.

9. Mount a formidable defence

A security app will help you limit the risks. In addition to scanning your application it can also protect your communication (e.g. via VPN) and detect and block phishing links. An example of such an app is Lookout Premium from Orange. This app currently protects 170 million devices. With such a strong foundation, it will know about any new threats long before you do. 

Did you know Orange includes Lookout Premium, a mobile security app, with every Shape subscription? This way your mobile device and your data are scanned, and you will be notified in case of a possible threat. Moreover, Orange keeps its finger on the pulse in terms of the latest security updates. We are happy to guide you through this process.