Security Breach Opens Possibility for Phishing Attacks
A recent security breach at Epsilon, one of the largest permission-based marketing companies, has led to the compromise of a significant number of email addresses and personal names. Epsilon’s services are used by corporations to manage and distribute email communications to customers. http://www.npr.org/2011/04/05/135135556/business-news
Those responsible for the attack may have your name, email address, and the company that you were doing business with. This information is used to tailor an email that could easily be confused as legitimate.
All Mountain Technologies has always been a strong believer in securing your business environment. We use best-in-class security products and services in a multi-layered approach to protect your network, computers, and inboxes. That said, it is always good to use common sense and be an additional layer of protection.
Common ways to protect yourself from falling victim to viruses and phishing attacks.
* Be suspicious of any email with urgent requests for personal financial information. Call the bank if they need anything from you.
* Spot a Phish: Phishers typically include upsetting or exciting (but false) statements in their emails to get people to react immediately
* They typically ask for information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, social security numbers, date of birth, etc.
* Don’t use the links in an email, instant message, or chat to get to any web page if you suspect the message might not be authentic or you don’t know the sender or user’s handle
* Avoid filling out forms in email messages that ask for personal financial information in emails
* Regularly check your bank, credit and debit card statements to ensure that all transactions are legitimate
* If anything is suspicious or you don’t recognize the transaction, contact your bank and all card issuers
* Ensure that your browser is up to date and security patches applied
Anti-Phishing Working Group
We have seen a recent increase in the number of fraudulent messages suggesting a problem a user’s mailbox. These messages suggest that your quota has been exceeded or that there is an error with your account. In general, please use caution when clicking on any link in an email, even if they seemingly come from a trusted source.
If you are concerned about an email or suspect a potential security problem on your PC, please contact our helpdesk by emailing helpdesk@allmtntech.com or dialing 970-748-8880.