Phishing: Don't take the bait Published Feb. 1, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Kimberly Lockhart 36th Communications Squadron ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Nearly 60 million phishing emails are sent each day attempting to steal personal information, but it's vital to Andersen's base network security that all Team Andersen users are educated to recognize common phishing techniques. Phishing scams are usually sent via e-mail and are designed to cause excitement or panic in the reader to trick the recipient to act quickly and ignore better judgment. An example of a typical phishing email could be, "Congratulations! You have been selected!! Please click on the following link to instantly claim your prize money." or "We suspect an unauthorized transaction on your account. To ensure that your account is not compromised, please click the link below and confirm your identity." Here's what to look for in an e-mail to avoid becoming a victim: · Official-looking logos appearing to be from legitimate, high-profile companies; · Urgent messages that warn failure to respond will result in no longer having access to your account or incurring penalties; · Pop-ups - phishing scams may come up in a web browser as well as e-mails. · Spelling mistakes - if the e-mail or pop-up is official, it shouldn't contain spelling mistakes; · Emails that request personal information and · Emails sent with attachments or links that are not digitally signed. The techniques used above are only a few examples used in phishing scams; new and more intelligent ways to con users are created every day. Remember that vigilance keeps the Andersen network safe, and the common sense of its users is the best defense. For more information or to clear up a suspicious e-mail, contact your unit information assurance officer.