Recently, I lost almost all my savings from my bank account just because I clicked on a suspicious link. However, I immediately contacted my bank and asked for assistance, so, the damage was controlled to an extent.
However, numerous people like me accidentally click on such links and lose valuable assets regarding their funds or information. Apparently, one in every three people clicks on suspicious links they receive on their email or SMS (KnowBe4).
Keeping everything in note, I am now hereby writing this article to let you know what to do when you accidentally click on a suspicious link. Read it carefully and stay cautious of scams.
Don’t Engage Further
It’s okay if you get fooled by the scammers. However, as soon as you find out that whatever is on your display is a scam, do not act further, not even a single click. Whatever form or field is requesting you to fill in the information, do not fill that.
Generally, these links are supported by an offer that feels almost impossible to find on the web. The scam mostly works on your greed, so, work on controlling your emotions and think logically.
Disconnect From the Internet
Sometimes, these links start downloading stuff without your permission. There’s a high chance that the downloaded file has some kind of virus or bot that is designed to steal or delete data from your device.
As long as you are connected to an internet connection, your data is prone to be shared with scammers. However, the moment you get disconnected from the internet, you may at least put a halt to the damage.
You can either turn off your Wi-Fi/ data or set your phone to airplane mode.
Scan for Malware
Once you’ve turned the internet of your device off, it’s time to perform a thorough check. If you’re using Windows, Windows Defender can perform a detailed scan. Linux and Android users may need to download antivirus solutions on a safe device and install them manually.
For iOS users, a complete device reset is often the most effective way to remove any malicious software, as iOS doesn’t support traditional antivirus scanning apps. Overall, there is some solution for each operating system and device.
I personally recommend you invest in some efficient antivirus that is less gimmick and more responsible for its duty.
Back-Up Important Data
Information like banking details, saved passwords, important documents, photos, videos, etc. are all necessary for different situations. It is recommended to keep a backup of these things handy to yourself.
You can either have external storage devices like a pen drive, SSD, etc. by your side or can create cloud backup on Google Drive. To make your backup more accessible and convenient, I recommend going for a cloud solution.
Cloud offers you free storage to a limited number, that can be extended with a subscription.
This pie chart shows people’s behavior of how often, or frequently they create backups of their important data.
Check for Suspicious Changes
Thoroughly inspect your device and find out if there are any changes or if anything is missing from the storage. To make your task easier, here are some basic things you must check:
Check bank and financial activities
Notice if the device has started lagging
Check if all the passwords are working fine
Check your email sent box and inbox
Look for any alert from the antivirus
Once you have gone through these checks and found nothing wrong, you can take a sigh of relief.
Reset Your Passwords
If nothing is wrong with your passwords yet, you must still make a move and change them as soon as possible. You can seek the service of an efficient password manager that can take care of all the password security and can also remember them for you.
With a password manager, it is also easy to log in to your accounts on different platforms with a single click. Coming back to resetting passwords can help your accounts and social media handles secure even if the scammer or the hacker has the information. So, be quick and act smart.
Monitor Unusual Activity
As mentioned previously, run a thorough inspection through every corner of your device and verify if everything is right. Start with your financial accounts, check funds and transactions, check your social media handles, and find out if there is any post made without your permission.
With these checks, you can confirm if the situation is truly under control or not.
Early warning signs of a scam include:
Unbelievably good deals or offers High-pressure tactics Request for upfront payment
Prevent Future Attacks
Lastly, staying away from any cybercrime or scam is tricky nowadays. But with the right knowledge and attention, no one can do wrong with you. Even if you get trapped in a scam, you can go for a data removal service to eliminate any kind of loss possible.
Now, if you found my writing helpful, consider sharing it with your friends and family as well.
