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Maybe the word " phishing " does not mean anything to you, but at the doors of Christmas and the end of the year, the time when more scams are recorded online, it is important to know their meaning.

The greater the number of purchases made through the network, the greater the number of computer crimes. And phishing is one of the most common.

And is that with the rise of cryptocurrencies, social networks and electronic commerce, increase the chances of success for those who commit cyber thefts.

But what is phishing ?

The term comes from the English word fishing , which in Spanish means "fish" and refers to how the scammers, the phishers , try to get their victims to take the bait .

Its objective: to steal user data (passwords, bank passwords, credit card) by posing as an institution: the bank, the gas company, the company for which it works ... anything goes.

It is a technique of impersonation of identity . The key to its success lies in the audacity of the thieves to gain the trust of their victims, but also in the lack of attention to detail of many Internet users.

But there are a number of things you can pay attention to to avoid falling into the trap.

1. Check the email address

The hackers often use the name of an original web site to create fraudulent e - mail addresses with which mislead recipients.

They can also pose as your friends or co-workers.

If you are not sure who sends you the email, be suspicious. And remember never to give personal passwords or passwords through email.

2. Check the url

Fraudulent emails usually include a web address (url) that mimics the company's website that hackers use .

The cloning is very subtle: it can be an almost identical change of letters ... but with a changed letter or an http without the final "s" , which indicates the security certificate.

Sometimes, a simple change from lowercase to uppercase (or vice versa) may be enough. And that false address usually directs the user to a fraudulent website.

Observe also the graphic part: is that really the logo of the company? And the typography? Check it! The smallest difference can be vital.

3. Do not miss spelling mistakes

A serious company, in general, does not commit misspellings or grammatical errors in their emails.

However, hackers do not usually pay too much attention. Do not make the same mistake: check all the details.

4. "Dear customer"

Another aspect to keep in mind is the lack of personalization of the email.

The hackers do not know your data, so they tend to use general expressions to refer to your recipient.

In a matter of computer security, this signal should trigger a red alert.

5. Is it really urgent?

One of the keys of phishers is to press their victims using a sense of urgency.

They threaten with the closing of the account or, paradoxically, with security problems, if the changes or actions that they ask for are not made.

If you have questions, contact the company directly.

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DO YOU THINK YOU WERE A PHISHING VICTIM?

Do not waste time and change all your passwords as soon as possible. And remember to get in touch with the institution that the hackers were trying to use to limit its effect.

Action Fraud, the British cyber crime reporting center, says it receives more than 350 complaints of scams per month, recommends the following if you receive a fraudulent email :

• Do not respond to the email or contact the person who sent it to you.

• Do not open any attached item.

• Do not click on any link.

• If you have already clicked, do not provide any personal information on that website.

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