In 2022, navigating the online world without compromising your security is nearly impossible. Ransomware attacks, security breaches, and yes, phishing scams are lurking around every corner, waiting to snatch up your personal and financial information at every turn. The trend doesn’t appear to be going anywhere, either, as the IRS has issued a warning that phishing scams are becoming more and more prevalent, particularly those that impersonate the tax collection agency. Even worse, the scammers are outright impersonating the IRS in service of collecting personal and financial information from users. These texts appeal to unsuspecting users with promises of “fake COVID relief, tax credits or help setting up an IRS online account.” In addition to being vigilant, the IRS has set up a specific email address (phishing@irs.gov) for taxpayers to send suspected scams to in order to cut down on the potential threat. If you really want to take your online safety seriously, vigilance isn’t going to cut it, though, particularly if you’re a business that has been under-investing in cybersecurity. Generally speaking, you should be investing in a full-on IT department to evaluate your cybersecurity needs. Still, if you’re looking to keep costs low, tools like password managers and antivirus software will help bolster your business’ security, aiding you in fending off malware and brute force attacks on your network and your credentials.
