Could your parents spot a phishing attack?

[juwan-for-watchguard]

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Phishing attempts are sent out often through text messages and email. For many of us here, it’s typically not hard to spot a phishing attempt as we’re actively looking for them and know the basic things to look for. How adept are our parents at spotting these scams? There are different scams online and through texts everywhere. I get one or two a day at least these days. My mother has gotten into the habit of calling me about anything that looks weird which makes me happy because she’s being safe but man, it’s a bit frequent! WatchGuard wrote up a few tips to share with your parents if you’re interested.

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Could your parents spot a phishing attack?

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@WatchGuard_Technologies_Inc

Could your parents spot a phishing attack?

• Yes
• No
• Sometimes

[Kenny8416]

Yeah my folks (well my dad at least) are pretty well switched on to scams, wether it’s phishing or phone calls

[spiceuser-mz6nb]

The ability of parents, or any individual, to spot phishing attacks largely depends on their familiarity with technology, awareness of common scam tactics, and vigilance in their digital interactions. While it’s encouraging to hear that your mother is proactive in reaching out to you about suspicious messages, it’s not uncommon for older generations to be less adept at recognizing phishing attempts. This is often due to less exposure and familiarity with the evolving nature of digital scams.

[noitforyou]

Hell man, one of our own SECURITY team doesn’t know how to spot a phish. I saw ticket a user submitted asking if an email was a phish - it had NO clickable links, NO QR code, nothing but an offer for some CNC and welding services and a phone number. It even had the comment to reply with Unsubscribe to opt out.

She sent it back to the user saying “Yes, definitely a phishing attempt, great catch!”

SMDH

[tiffany-for-hpe]

@noitforyou

Hell man, one of our own SECURITY team doesn’t know how to spot a phish. I saw ticket a user submitted asking if an email was a phish - it had NO clickable links, NO QR code, nothing but an offer for some CNC and welding services and a phone number. It even had the comment to reply with Unsubscribe to opt out.

She sent it back to the user saying “Yes, definitely a phishing attempt, great catch!”

SMDH

Whoa, lol sounds like someone is taking the whole “Zero Trust” security approach to the absolute limits on this one!

@noitforyou

[juwan-for-watchguard]

@noitforyou

Hell man, one of our own SECURITY team doesn’t know how to spot a phish. I saw ticket a user submitted asking if an email was a phish - it had NO clickable links, NO QR code, nothing but an offer for some CNC and welding services and a phone number. It even had the comment to reply with Unsubscribe to opt out.

She sent it back to the user saying “Yes, definitely a phishing attempt, great catch!”

SMDH

Every email is a phishing attempt!

[juwan-for-watchguard]

@omair-cspro

It’s commendable that your mother is proactive in reaching out about potential phishing attempts. Recognize that identifying scams online might be less intuitive for those less familiar with the digital landscape. Consider sharing educational resources to empower your parents in recognizing and avoiding phishing attempts.

Yeah, I think showing actual examples of what to look for can go a long way!