Everyone would like to have something to block out all the emails and pop-ups that get in our way nearly every day. But that isn’t going to happen. No matter what software or hardware you try to put in place to keep you safe, the best way will always be for you to be smarter than the nefarious trickster who is out to get you.

And to sum up how you do that: Don’t click on anything.

Sure, it can be more complicated than that, but often it is not. There are other rules of thumb to follow for sure, but that is the big one.

Sometimes it is hard to be the smart one – and when that is the case, use a lifeline or “phone a friend.”

I read a quote recently from an executive at a major software provider that I found particularly interesting. She said, if you have any doubt about an email, have literally anyone in the room take a look at it. The theory is, if you are not the person targeted, you will be better at seeing the signs of a scam and avoiding it. And it makes sense. Think about if you are waiting for a package to arrive. You would read any email pertaining to a package as likely being about YOUR package, making you susceptible. If you call over a friend to read the email, they will not have that thought in their mind. They will read the email more clearly, and think to ask better questions, because they have no pre-conceived notions getting in the way.

Anyway, it is useful to know that YOU are the first line of defense, not your antivirus software or firewall.

If you want to learn more, give us a call. We come to your office an put on a show. Well, it’s not much of a show – it is really just a presentation about the ways to identify common scams, and how to avoid them. But, we won’t stop you if you want to bring popcorn.