Malicious email messages are a way for scammers and criminals to steal data, infect devices with malware, steal personal and financial information and perform other malicious acts.

The best defense is knowing how to identify dangerous email. Some email threats are harder to spot than others, criminals have become more skilled at making dangerous email messages look legitimate. Here are some common signs to look for.

Email Address Errors

Check the email address on each message you receive to verify that it is legitimate. Be suspicious of any sender you don’t know but also check the address carefully even when the email seems normal or looks like it is coming from someone you know. Scammers and hackers can make the email address look legitimate, but you might notice strange characters like unnecessary commas and periods, misspellings, strange domain names, or added numbers inconspicuously hidden in the email address.

Phishing Email

Phishing emails will ask you to provide personal or private information like credit card numbers, banking details, usernames and passwords, account numbers, Social Security numbers and other confidential information. The email will often instill a sense of urgency to act, for example it may say that your financial account has been compromised and you need to provide the information requested to secure your account.

Malicious Attachments

Email attachments are a common way for criminals to infect your device with malware and steal your information. Never open an attachment you were not expecting, even if it is from someone you know. If you receive an unexpected attachment from someone you know reach out to them to find out if they sent the attachment and why.

Malicious Links

Malicious links when clicked on can direct you to dangerous websites and infect your device with malware. Never click a link you are not sure of. Dangerous links might be incomplete, direct you to a site you have never heard of or contain errors and misspellings. Hover your mouse over a link before you click on it to preview the URL.

Check for Strange Wording

Look for anything unusual in the wording of the email, does it use proper language? Check the tone, grammar, and punctuation, look for misspellings and anything else out of the ordinary.

Malware is one of the biggest threats to your devices and your security. Malware includes spyware, ransomware, viruses, worms, trojans and adware.

Malware gets secretly installed and can steal personal information and cause a host of problems on the device. Once a device is infected with malware cybercriminals can use the device to run botnets, send spam emails and perform other malicious acts. Personal information on the device such as usernames and passwords and private and financial information can be stolen and used for identity and financial theft.

When it comes to malware your best defense is a strong offense, you want to prevent your devices from becoming infected so that you do not become a victim.

Know What to Look For

The majority of malware is easy to recognize if you know what to look for, most malware comes from spam emails, malicious websites, and pop-ups. Phishing schemes are used to trick users into disclosing personal information, therefore, never click on anything in an email message you are not sure of or anything that appears randomly on your screen.

Back Up Data

Backing up data is a form of preventative mitigation that will be invaluable if a malware attack is successful. Backup your computer and other devices regularly so that you can recover your data in the event of a malware attack.

Update

Keep your computer and all of your devices, programs and apps up to date. Many updates are designed to eliminate security issues.

Use Antivirus Software

Install antivirus software on your computer and all of your devices, keep it up to date and run regular scans.

Be Cautious Downloading

Don’t download any software or apps from unknow sources, even seemingly reputable programs can come bundled with malicious and intrusive software. Only download software directly from the author or publisher’s website, and when you do download software, read the end user license agreement before continuing to the installation. When in doubt, do not install the software. Also be careful downloading files on removable storage like external hard drives and thumb drives.

Avoid Suspicious Websites

If you visit a website that contains a lot of pop-up’s or just does not feel right close it immediately. Pay attention to the URL, look for any misspellings, often cybercriminals will set up websites that look almost identical to legitimate sites. Secure sites should start with HTTPS and have the padlock symbol, but don’t depend on that entirely as scammers can make their sites look secure.

If you receive any kind of notification on a website that your computer is infected with a virus and it prompts you to call a number or click a link for help don’t do it. This is a very common way computers become infected. If you cannot close the website shut the computer off, after restarting clear your browser data and run a complete virus scan.