Newbie Guide: Phishing, The Threat They Pose And How To Avoid Them.

Phishing is one of the oldest and most popular methods used by hackers and scammers to enable security breaches and carry out cyber attacks. This method is so unique and has been the the cause of the most security breaches and exploit in recent times. "Phising" like the word "fishing", uses the idea of setting a trap for a fish (victim) using a bait (phishing link/ message).

The most common way people become victims of phishing is by clicking on random and suspicious links and entering important and sensitive information when requested to after clicking on these phishing links. Phishing links/ messages often come in form of important announcements, giveaways or freebie, airdrops and urgent emergency messages. This way, they get the victims attention and curiousity, and if the victim knows nothing about phishing links in the first place, they would click on it and attend to it like it was a normal link for a normal activity.

After inputing all the important information requested on the site, the victim would have given the hacker all the information they need to exploit them. Some phishing links don't even need their victims to fill any information, the moment they are clicked on, malwares and spywares are automatically downloaded to the mobile device or computer of the victim and they send all important information to the hacker. A victim may not even know an cyber attack is ongoing if such malwares are installed on their system for months as they can also be destroyed remotely and quietly by the hacker.

So how do you avoid phishing links? It's simple, question everything snd don't trust everything. Don't click on any random link because it promised to reward you for something you didn't do or deserve. This is a technique already used in real life when a scammer reaches out to potential victims announcing that they won a prize for something random, something they didn't partake in and they begin to tell their victims to provide money or sensitive information before they can claim the prize. When you see a link/message you weren't expecting, don't click on it immediately, you can ask other about it first or search about it on Google. This is the major and best way to stay safe from phishing links and attacks; by not interacting with them in the first place.