What to Do If You Accidentally Click on a Phishing Link
If you accidentally click on a phishing link, don’t panic—but act quickly to minimize damage. Cybercriminals use phishing links to steal passwords, infect your device with malware, or trick you into revealing personal information. Follow these steps to secure your accounts and prevent further harm.
🚀 Brought to you by Axio Networks, an award-winning managed IT provider in Scottsdale, Arizona. We help businesses and individuals strengthen cybersecurity and recover from phishing attacks.
📌 Step 1: Disconnect from the Internet
✔ If you suspect a phishing attack, disconnect your device from Wi-Fi or Ethernet immediately.
✔ If using a work computer, inform your IT team right away.
✔ This helps prevent malware from spreading or sending data to hackers.
✅ Turning off your internet connection stops the attack before more damage is done!
📌 Step 2: Do Not Enter Any Information
✔ If the phishing link directed you to a fake login page, do not enter your username, password, or payment details.
✔ If you’ve already entered information, proceed to change your password immediately (Step 4).
✅ Hackers rely on users willingly providing credentials—stop before it’s too late!
📌 Step 3: Close the Suspicious Website and Scan for Malware
✔ Close the browser tab immediately—do not click anything else on the page.
✔ Run a full scan with your antivirus software (Windows Defender, Malwarebytes, or your company’s security software).
✔ If your antivirus detects threats, follow its instructions to quarantine and remove them.
✅ Scanning for malware ensures your device hasn’t been infected!
📌 Step 4: Change Your Passwords (If You Entered Credentials)
✔ If you entered your password on a phishing page, change it immediately.
✔ Use a strong, unique password—at least 16 characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
✔ Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for extra security.
✅ Changing your password prevents hackers from accessing your accounts!
📌 Step 5: Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
✔ If your account supports MFA, turn it on immediately.
✔ Use an authenticator app (Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator) or a security key instead of SMS for stronger protection.
✅ MFA blocks hackers, even if they steal your password!
📌 Step 6: Check Your Accounts for Suspicious Activity
✔ Review recent login history for unusual locations or unknown devices.
✔ Look for unauthorized changes to your account settings or email forwarding rules.
✔ If you see anything suspicious, log out of all active sessions and report it to your IT department or service provider.
✅ Early detection can stop hackers before they cause serious damage!
📌 Step 7: Report the Phishing Attack
✔ Report the phishing email to your email provider (Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo, etc.).
✔ For work-related phishing, notify your IT department immediately.
✔ Forward the email to reportphishing@apwg.org (Anti-Phishing Working Group) to help track scams.
✅ Reporting phishing emails helps prevent others from falling victim!
📌 Step 8: Monitor Your Financial and Personal Accounts
✔ If the phishing scam involved banking, credit cards, or PayPal, check for unauthorized transactions.
✔ If necessary, freeze your credit or report fraud to your financial institution.
✔ Consider using credit monitoring services to watch for suspicious activity.
✅ Acting quickly can prevent identity theft or financial fraud!
📌 Step 9: Educate Yourself to Avoid Future Phishing Attacks
✔ Be cautious of unexpected emails, texts, or calls asking for sensitive information.
✔ Verify links before clicking—hover over them to check if they match the official site.
✔ Remember: Legitimate companies never ask for passwords or payment details via email.
✅ Awareness and training are your best defense against phishing attacks!
📌 When to Seek Professional Help
✔ If you’re unsure how to remove malware or can’t access your accounts, contact IT support.
✔ For businesses, professional cybersecurity experts (like Axio Networks) can help contain the attack and secure your systems.
✅ If in doubt, seek expert help to prevent further security risks!
💡 Axio Networks Pro Tip
For business users, implementing advanced email filtering, security awareness training, and phishing-resistant MFA significantly reduces the risk of phishing attacks. Need help securing your organization? Axio Networks provides expert cybersecurity solutions—contact us today! 🚀