How to Educate your Family and Friends about Phishing dangers

By: Vanna karthik; Vel Tech University, Chennai, India

Abstract

Phishing assaults, which use dishonest methods to obtain valuable data from people and businesses, have become an increasing issue in modern times. Increasing group cybersecurity awareness and resistance requires educating friends and family about phishing threats. This study examines successful approaches that promote their importance, simplicity, and interest in teaching non-technical audiences about phishing threats. Through the use of interactive tools, real-world examples, and ongoing discussion, people may create an informed community that is able to identify and counteract phishing attacks. The results are intended to enable regular people to take proactive measures to protect themselves from cybercrime.

Introduction

We now communicate, work, and connect in completely different ways thanks to the internet’s explosive growth, but there are also serious cybersecurity dangers. Phishing continues to rank among these threats as one of the most common and harmful types of cybercrime. Phishing scams frequently take advantage of human psychology to fool people into disclosing private information, including passwords and bank account information[1]. Many people are still at risk, especially those without technological knowledge, even after extensive awareness campaigns. In order to secure personal and shared digital spaces, this study emphasizes the value of group awareness by focusing on doable and approachable methods of teaching friends and family about phishing threats.

Literature review

First recognize phishing scams[2]

In order to steal your personal information, these annoying threats frequently appear as emails or communications that appear to be from trusted sources.

Typical Indications of Phishing Scams:
Misspelled email addresses or URLs: Follow your own senses if something seems a little strange.
Unwanted emails requesting personal information: Reputable businesses typically avoid requesting private information over email.
Exciting or urgent messages: Scammers frequently aim to create fear in order to get you to act quickly and without thinking.
Always verify the sender’s information before clicking on any links or disclosing personal information to prevent falling victim to phishing scams. Using anti-phishing software and turning on two-factor authentication for your accounts are also smart moves[2].

Secure your devices[3]

• Install antivirus software
• Keep your operating system up to date
• Use strong, unique password for each account

Educate your Family and Friends[2]

One of the best ways to keep your family and friends secure is to educate them about internet scams.

Popular scams and indicators to look out for: Describe the many frauds, such as tech support scams, phishing, and phony offers. Draw attention to the warning signs, which include bad grammar, urgent demands, and unknown senders.
Not revealing private information online: Everyone should be taught to exercise caution while sharing anything online. Addresses, phone numbers, and financial information are examples of personal information that should be kept confidential[2].

Discuss to your family and friends about this topic[4].

Methodology

This study uses a straightforward method to inform friends and family about the risks of phishing.

Recognizing the Audience: To properly customize the instructional material, start by evaluating the technical expertise and internet usage patterns of family members and friends.
Using Real-World Examples: To help people relate to and remember the material, share examples of typical phishing efforts, such as phony emails or texts.
Practical Steps: Explain how to spot phishing efforts by looking for suspect URLs, bad writing, or requests for personal information that seem urgent.

Conclusion

Educating family and friends about the dangers of phishing is now a personal safety issue, but more importantly, it’s a communal responsibility in today’s connected world. Using simple, relevant, and interactive approaches significantly enhances the cybersecurity awareness of your close networks. The results of this research prove that personalized and participatory educational approaches are effective ways to raise a culture of vigilance and informed decisions. In the future, research should be performed to find scalable strategies for advanced tool integration in improving the phishing education initiative, such as AI.

References

1. B. M. Berens, K. Dimitrova, M. Mossano, and M. Volkamer, “Phishing awareness and education – When to best remind?,” in Proceedings 2022 Symposium on Usable Security, San Diego, CA: Internet Society, 2022. doi: 10.14722/usec.2022.23075.
2. “How to Protect Your Family from Online Scams.” Accessed: Jan. 03, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.goaro.com//blog/how-to-protect-your-family-from-online-scams
3. C. S. E. Canada, “Four ways you can help friends and family avoid phishing scams,” Get Cyber Safe. Accessed: Jan. 03, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/en/blogs/four-ways-you-can-help-friends-and-family-avoid-phishing-scams
4. “Talking to Your Family and Friends About Cybersecurity | ACA Group.” Accessed: Jan. 03, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.acaglobal.com/insights/talking-your-family-and-friends-about-cybersecurity
5. Zhang, Z., Sun, R., Zhao, C., Wang, J., Chang, C. K., & Gupta, B. B. (2017). CyVOD: a novel trinity multimedia social network scheme. Multimedia Tools and Applications, 76, 18513-18529.
6. Alsmirat, M. A., Jararweh, Y., Obaidat, I., & Gupta, B. B. (2017). Internet of surveillance: a cloud supported large-scale wireless surveillance system. The Journal of Supercomputing, 73, 973-992.
7. Kasa A.S. (2024) AI Based Methods for Identifying Phishing Methods, Insights2Techinfo, pp.1

Cite As

Karthik V. (2025) How to Educate your Family and Friends about Phishing dangers, Insights2techinfo pp.1

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