Most people receive a lot of spam emails, calls and other messages every day. These usually represent a phishing attempt and no matter how hard you try, you may accidentally put yourself in a difficult situation eventually – it’s not your fault; it happens to everyone.
If you fall victim to phishing, don’t worry too much. Although it’s frustrating, if you quickly realize your mistake, you can minimize the damage.
What should I do if I download malware
Now, there’s a small distinction here: downloading and installing malware are different issues.
If you suspect you’ve downloaded malware via a phishing link, try to find and delete the offending file. If you can’t do this, don’t worry too much. Malware files often disguise themselves; here’s a quick check to see what you’re really dealing with. Basically, it’s a good idea to take a quick look, but don’t spend too much time searching.
Whether you find it or not, run a full antivirus scan and see what comes up. This will find any malicious files you’ve downloaded and allow you to view them and see if you recognize them. You’ll then be able to quarantine and delete suspicious files.
If you’ve clicked on a malicious file and installed it, you’re probably dealing with some serious malware. You may need to reformat your hard drive or look for a more specialized rootkit scanner. In the worst case, you may need to buy a whole new hard drive, but obviously, this is a last resort. There are several steps to take when you detect malware that will help contain and remove the infection.
Under no circumstances should you respond to further requests from the person or organization from which you downloaded the malware-laden file. Often, this malware is used as part of a ransomware scam where the scammer offers to “unlock” or “return” your information in exchange for money.
Even if that’s not the case, nothing good will come of engaging with them. Just block them and report them as a scam.
What if my login information was stolen
Most phishing emails are more about stealing your information, using fake website or app logins to grab your credentials.
If you think your login information has been stolen, you should take immediate action. Start changing passwords for accounts associated with the hacked email address on another device. If you think your primary device is infected, it may have a keylogger installed to steal your data while you type on it. You can also try to locate the keylogger on your smartphone.
This can be a lengthy process – although it’s much faster if you use a password manager – so be sure to start with the most important accounts first, such as your bank account and any other accounts that may contain your credit card or bank information.
If you think your credit card information has also been compromised, don’t hesitate to contact your bank; asking them to disable your existing credit or debit card and issue you a new one is a relatively easy process. This may lead to a few days when you may have to withdraw some money, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Plus, there are some benefits to ordering a new credit card; it will cancel any subscriptions or memberships you may have forgotten about.
How to avoid phishing scams in the future
It’s important to remember that email is an insecure medium for communication. It’s very easy for fraudsters to mess with you using fraudulent emails or offers like this.
Always apply healthy skepticism to anything that comes via email. If possible, don’t click on any links within an email. Instead, use a URL checker to double-check that the URL leads to a legitimate site. Then, manually visit the site instead of using the link, which may redirect you to a completely different place.
Handle any files with caution. Make sure the sender is trustworthy before you download anything, and only do so if it’s absolutely necessary – like papers you need to sign to start a new job.
Avoiding most scams requires vigilance. Take things slowly, read them carefully, look for anything suspicious, and always take the least risky action to accomplish your goal. In general, interacting with links or downloads that come from an email address, especially one you don’t know, is a bad idea.