How to Spot and Protect Against Firewall Scams

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As cybersecurity scams have continued to evolve in recent years using enhanced tactics such as phishing, remote access hacking, ransomware, and more, protecting against cybercriminals has never been more important. A firewall is one of the first lines of security you have when protecting sensitive information, and ensuring it has not fallen victim to a hacker should be a top priority. Here’s how to spot and protect against firewall scams.

What is a Firewall Scam?

Understanding what a firewall scam is requires an understanding of how firewalls work. A firewall is essentially a network security tool that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic that has the ability to block certain traffic depending on pre-defined rules. Strong firewalls can help protect against malware and scammers while keeping everything from a website to an operating system functioning perfectly.

A firewall scam takes advantage of this by using a fake pop-up on a malicious website to alert visitors that there is a supposed issue with the security of their firewall. This pop-up then prompts users to contact a technical support number, with a scammer on the other end of the phone, to resolve the “issue” for a fee. They may also request remote access to your computer and plant spyware onto it to steal additional information.

How to Identify a Firewall Scam

To avoid becoming the victim of identity theft, credit card fraud, or other scams, it’s best to learn how to identify a firewall scam. These pop-up notifications will always emerge while you are within a web browser, claiming that your firewall has been breached by malicious software on the website.

The first and most important way to identify a firewall scam is by the presence of a phone number on the pop-up. Real security notification alerts will never ask you to call; they will simply tell you to close the page. Should you make the mistake of calling the phone number provided, any technician claiming they need access to your computer remotely or a certain sum of money to resolve the problem should be the next largest sign.

Strategies for Protecting Against Firewall Scams

Employees falling victim to firewall scams can result in serious security concerns for your business. Fortunately, there are a few key strategies you can use to protect against these scams:

  • Stay up to date on antivirus software: Antivirus software can stop these pop-ups from showing in the first place while also warning users that they are entering a potentially malicious website.
  • Never call a listed support phone number from a website pop-up: Rather than calling a technician’s listed phone number, close the website immediately. Should you still be concerned about malware, run your antivirus software to be sure nothing is present.
  • Train your employees to recognize fake websites: Teach your employees to spot signs of fake websites. Secure websites will start with “https,” with the ‘s’ standing for secured and usually have a closed lock symbol to indicate it is safe for browsing.

Following the above tips is a great start for protecting your organization from the dangers of firewall scams. As cybersecurity continues to evolve, it’s important to stay on top of current trends.

Enhance your organizational security today

To take your security to the next level, focus on identifying and setting up protections against firewall scams today. Upgrading your organization’s security can be a daunting task to tackle all by yourself. If your business is in Columbus, Cleveland, or Akron, and you’re ready to receive assistance in enhancing your security, get in touch with us here at Warwick Communications today.

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