By Greg Ritchie
Messenger Reporter
EAST TEXAS – There are a number of terms that our parents or even elder siblings never heard or had to learn: Hackers. Spam (not the kind that comes in a can.) Bloggers. Tiktokkers.
You can add “phishing” to that list.
Many people have been victims of phishing without really knowing the term or what it means.
Phishing is when people try to trick you into giving them your personal information. Hacking is when they try to steal it; phishing is when you gladly give it to them.
Over the past few years, phishers have improved their talents and methods of attack.
They can come as a link in an email or even as a text. They buy ads online that look almost like the bank you use or the tech support you need to fix your computer.
A relative of mine was having a problem with his computer and searched online for the company manufacturer. He called the first number on the search engine. They told him he had a virus but they would be happy to fix it for him! Such good service!
They checked and – wouldn’t you know it – his computer wasn’t covered under the original warranty. One credit card and $199 later the computer was still broken and he had to call the bank to see if he could reverse the charge. The fake company had bought the first spot on the search engine and ran a website only a letter or two different than the site he was looking for. A mistake anyone would, could –…
