When faced with a phishing threat, the best thing to do is put it into your spam mail and report it. However, not everyone does this, and they click on the email. Worse still, they click on the link, and the hacker can now access many or all of that person’s files or use spyware to collect blackmail material on them to extort money, information or data out of them.
There are many dangers to being a victim of a phishing attack. Phishing attacks affect more people than you think, and the likelihood is, someone you know will be or has been the victim of a phishing attack, not even taking into account other elements of cybercrime. Here are some of the dangers that might affect you if you become a phishing attack victim. To learn more about Phishing, click here.
You are at an extremely high risk of being a victim of identity fraudulence
Identity fraudulence targeted 680,000 people in 2018. That is a huge number, and it’s only growing. If you become a victim yourself, it can have a significant impact on your financial standing, reputation, and by extension, your future.
Some people don’t even know they have been victims of identity fraud until they check their bank balance or start seeing questionable emails and notifications arriving.
Malware and Ransomware can do irreversible and irreparable damage to your computer files.
Even if you are quite ‘tech-savvy,’ this is a terrifying situation to be in. Ransomware can wipe all of the files from your computer or lock them up for a very long time, which can be very stressful, especially if you work from home during the current pandemic.
Malware can also be just as dangerous, as it can let Trojans, spyware, and viruses into your computer, allowing hackers and cybercriminals to access your files and collect sensitive data and information about you and your family. If you work on this computer, they will also have access to your work and business information too, which is a terrifying thought.
It can be very costly to repair.
Patching up a hole that a cybercriminal leaves in your computer’s software or cloud storage can be very expensive. Sometimes you cannot save a computer or device, and you have to buy a new one, which can be awful if you have just invested in a new laptop, phone, or tablet.
It can also be expensive if the cybercriminal had access to your credit card or bank accounts, as you will have lost a lot of money if they used it to their advantage. Retrieving your funds will be near impossible and can have devastating effects on your credit score.
Being the victim of a phishing attack can be stressful and expensive and damage your reputation and livelihood. It can also place those that you love and those that you work within danger, so it is essential to prevent phishing attacks at all costs.
