// CYBER THREAT

Phishing explained

Phishing emails trick you into handing over passwords, money or personal details. Here’s how to recognise them and keep yourself and your business safe.

  • ● Plain English
  • ● How to protect yourself
  • ● Real help on call

/01 — WHAT IT IS

Know your enemy

Phishing is when criminals send fake emails (or messages) pretending to be a company or person you trust — your bank, Microsoft, a supplier, even your boss — to trick you into clicking a link, opening a file or handing over details.

They rely on urgency and familiarity. A moment’s pause and a few checks defeat almost all of them.

  • Unexpected ‘urgent’ requests
  • Slightly wrong sender addresses
  • Links that don’t match the text
  • Requests for passwords or payment
  • Spelling and grammar slips
  • Generic ‘Dear customer’ greetings

/02 — HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Stay one step ahead

  • Pause and check

    Never act on urgency — verify the sender first.

  • Hover before you click

    Check where a link really goes before clicking.

  • Email filtering

    We filter most phishing out before it reaches you.

  • MFA everywhere

    A stolen password alone won’t get them in.

  • Verify money requests

    Confirm payment or detail changes by phone.

  • Ask us

    Subscribers can always ask ‘is this safe?’

Our partner Malwarebytes Premium blocks threats like this in real time — prefer to protect your own device?

Malwarebytes Premium — trusted protection

Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission if you buy through it, at no extra cost to you.

/03 — IF YOU’VE BEEN HIT

What to do right now

  1. 01

    Don’t panic, do tell us

    If you clicked or shared details, contact us straight away.

  2. 02

    Change passwords

    Reset the affected password and any that match it; turn on MFA.

  3. 03

    We secure & check

    We lock down accounts, check for damage and prevent a repeat.

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// GOOD QUESTIONS

Frequently asked

What should I do if I clicked a phishing link?

Don’t enter any details, disconnect if prompted to download anything, and contact us to check your accounts and device.

How can I tell if an email is phishing?

Look for urgency, mismatched sender addresses, odd links and requests for credentials or payment — and when unsure, ask us.

Can phishing be stopped?

Email filtering, MFA and awareness stop the vast majority — we set all three up.

Worried about phishing?

We protect Dorset homes and businesses from threats like this every day — with layered security, Malwarebytes Premium and a real person to ask.

01202 775566 · help@365techies.co.uk · MON–FRI 9AM–5PM