'Think before you click' - Gardaí release tips on how to avoid falling victim to scammers

Gardaí are urging the public to take time and think before responding to potentially fraudulent messages and phone calls. 

The call comes as a new public awareness campaign for October's European Cyber Security Month launches across the country. 

The campaign - jointly promoted by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) - is raising awareness on how to counteract fraudulent activities such as phishing (fraudulent emails), smishing (fraudulent text messages) and vishing (fraudulent phone calls). 

The NCSC and Gardaí are asking the public to 'think before you click' and take time and space before responding to messages that seem suspect. 

Speaking about the new campaign, Minister of State Ossian Smyth, said, "The use of social engineering through phishing and other such attacks to target individuals’ personal information is a deplorable form of cyber-attack that many of us have likely encountered at some point. 

"It is vital that we remember to allow ourselves time upon receipt of a suspicious email or text. Attackers will try to build a fake sense of urgency — there is no need to respond to such a false timescale. 

"European Cyber Security Month is a terrific way to raise awareness of the importance of allowing ourselves time and space in such correspondence and protect ourselves from these fraudulent attacks." 

Raising awareness on X, Gardaí posted seven tips on how to break the chain of ransomware attacks. 

They stated, "Online safety is important for everyone. Take care of your personal information and data. Don’t share with strangers, backup regularly, don’t click on links and update protections from reliable sources." 

Online safety is important for everyone.

Take care of your personal information and data. Don’t share with strangers, backup regularly, don’t click on links and update protections from reliable sources.

For more info https://t.co/2vaj4uGYXH#GNCCB #ECSM2023 #ThinkB4UClick pic.twitter.com/QTOyDRYdC8

— Garda Info (@gardainfo) October 2, 2023

Protection tips include implementing multi-factor authentication, effective logging and monitoring of accounts, following the 3-2-1 backup rule (three copies on two separate systems with one offline), reducing network entry points, educating staff in workplaces, regular security updates, and implementing drills to prepare for potential serious data breaches. 

Other tips to protect yourself from smishing:

• Do not respond 
• Slow down,  particularly if the request is urgent 
• Never click on links if you don’t recognise the sender 
• If in doubt, ring your bank or financial institution 

Tips to protect yourself from social engineering:

• Be wary of tempting offers 
• Don’t give in to time pressures 
• Never give away financial information 

Photo: File