Protecting your data online has become a Herculean task in recent years. Security breaches, scams, and a wide range of cybersecurity threats have become a regular part of the online world and defending yourself can feel like an uphill battle. Unfortunately, the battle rages on, as a new phishing scam is targeting Apple users through some pretty convincing means that could trick even the brightest of cybersecurity experts. If you oblige, the hackers will gain access to your Apple ID profile, likely changing the password and locking you out. This will give them all your personal information stored on the Apple service, further endangering your financial wellbeing. The biggest problem with this phishing scam is that it’s quite convincing, as the texts and emails requesting your password are actually real. They don’t utilize fake websites to lure you in, but rather employ the actual “forgot your password?” button to get you to unlock your account for them. Beyond that, there are lots of ways you can protect yourself online from phishing scams and other cybersecurity threats. Antivirus software is one of your best bets, as it can alert you when scams and other nefarious activities are lurking behind otherwise innocuous pages online. Password managers can also help, as they’ll alert you when your credentials have been compromised, so you can change them out as quickly as possible. Finally, the best tool you have in your arsenal against cyber threats are your own eyeballs. Vigilance can go a long way in preventing even the most advanced threats, as your average scam is laden with everything from spelling errors to questionable URLs. Just keep your eyes peeled and do a bit of due diligence before inputting information and you should be on your way to a more secure online experience.
