There are a few ways your machine can get infected with malware but the most common ways are by opening a malicious file attachment, or downloading and opening a file from an unsafe website. It can be designed to do many different things including stealing your personal data, identity theft, using your device to quietly attack other machines, using your computer’s resources to mine cryptocurrency, or any number of other malicious tasks. Malware is malicious software and is sometimes referred to as a "virus". To learn more about how to spot and defeat phishing attacks see Protect yourself from phishing schemes and other forms of online fraud Malware Use SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge which can help to block known phishing websites. Instead reach out to the sender, preferably via a different method like text message or phone call, and confirm that the attachment is genuine before you open it. If you get an attachment you weren’t expecting, don’t open it. A link from a phishing email will take you to a site that looks very genuine but is designed to trick you into entering your personal information. If you get a link that appears to be from your bank or other trusted organization, open a new tab in your web browser and go directly to the organization’s website from your own saved favorite, from a web search, or by typing in the organization’s domain name yourself. Never open any links or attachments you weren’t expecting even if they appear to come from somebody you trust. If the message claims to be from your bank but the sender’s address is not your bank’s domain name that should be a loud warning. Pay particular attention to the email address of the sender. Look carefully at any messages you get that want you to take urgent action. Any attached file is almost certainly malware. The website will likely be a fake version of a legitimate website, designed to fool you into entering your username and password, or other personal information, so they can steal that information to use themselves. The message will include something you need to click on – a link to a website, or an attached file most commonly. The urgency is to get you to take the message seriously and also to get you to act on the message without thinking about it too much, consulting a trusted advisor, or looking into whether the message might be a fake. Something is going to be canceled, you’re going to have to pay some kind of penalty, or you’re going to miss out on some kind of special deal, and you have to act NOW. The messages usually have a sense of urgency to them. The truly daring scammers may try to impersonate your boss or a family member. Could be your bank, the government, a service like Netflix or Spotify, a tech company like Microsoft, Amazon, or Apple, or some other service you recognize. The message or call will appear to come from a person or organization you trust. What they all have in common are: A trusted sender Most phishing attempts arrive via email, but they can also come via text messages, direct messages on social media, or even phone calls (what we call "Vishing").
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