Don’t Take The Bait: Is Your Antivirus Enough To Stop Phishing?

There is no antivirus software on earth that can make you completely phishing-proof. Now that might sound a bit gloomy for an article about staying safe online, but bear with me – it’s actually good news when you understand why.

Phishing scams are one of the most common ways that people get caught out these days hook, line and sinker (who doesn’t appreciate a good pun?). The problem is, the scams are getting smarter by the week. To the point where even the most tech-confident individuals are doubting themselves when a legit-looking email lands in their inbox.

So the first thing you’ll ask yourself is: where does your antivirus fit into all of it? And does it actually stop scammers or is it a helping hand? Let’s get into it.

What Is Phishing?

First things first, let’s be clear about what we’re dealing with. Phishing is a type of scam where someone pretends to be someone they’re not. Could be your bank, a delivery company – even your own boss – and they try to trick you into handing over valuable information. In other words, they want to appear as a legitimate, trustworthy individual or enterprise that you wouldn’t question.

Phishing arrives in all sorts of guises. There’s the classic email or a text message (now charmingly known as “smishing”), fake websites that look identical to the legitimate ones and even phone calls. Given the rise of deepfakes and synthetic media, it’s become even easier to fake a phone call.

The tactic is built solely around deception with the goal of making you believe that person is who they say they are, when they very much aren’t.

The Telltale Signs Of A Phishing Scam

Good security often starts with good habits and one of those is knowing what to look out for when it comes to phishing scams. While these aren’t always relevant to every single scam, they are some of the more common red flags that you should look out for.

• A sense of urgency to make you panic and take an action without thinking it through. We’ve all seen those “act now or your account will be closed!” signs. Major red flag.
• Incorrect spelling or grammar however, scammers are getting better with this. Still, it’s one of the most noticeable signs that something isn’t right.
• Sender addresses that don’t match the company’s or slightly different spellings.
• Out-of-the-blue requests for passwords or payment details.

How Does Your Antivirus Handle Phishing Attempts?

Time to provide some reassurance. Modern antivirus software does the majority of the heavy lifting when it comes to phishing and just as phishing scams are becoming more sophisticated, the software is becoming equally as educated.

Most security suites nowadays will have built-in web protection which automatically blocks known scam websites before they can get a chance to load. They’ll also scan your emails too and flag attachments or links that seem suspicious. And if you do happen to accidentally download something you shouldn’t have, the real-time scanning feature is there to jump in and remove it.

As with most things these days, AI is being incorporated into antivirus software to add a more intelligent layer of security. The more advanced suites use a bit of AI wizardry to spot suspicious patterns they haven’t seen before. So in most cases, it’s safe to say that antivirus pulls its weight.

Here’s Where Things Can Change

Now for the harsh truth. Your antivirus does have a blind spot – you. Antivirus software can do a lot of pretty impressive things, but what it can’t do is save you from yourself. And that’s because phishing is designed to target the person, not the machine.

If a scammer had to send you a beautifully convincing fake email and you willingly share login credentials or bank details, there’s nothing your antivirus can do about it. You’ve handed over the keys of your own accord with no malware required, that’s what makes phishing such a slippery slope and why so many people tend to get caught out.

It’s also a small matter of timing. New scam sites pop up every day, by the thousands, and it takes a while for them to get on blocklists. If one had to reach you before it got flagged, it might just slip through the cracks.

And then there’s also things like phone calls or a WhatsApp message where antivirus doesn’t work and you may take the bait. Unfortunately, the software can’t be everywhere at once and that’s a real pity.

Is One Layer Of Defence Enough?

In short, not really. Picking one tool and hoping for the best to stay safe online isn’t the best approach. If your security matters to you, it’s best to take a layered approach.

Antivirus is just one layer. A solid one, yes, but just one part of it. Use two-factor authentication wherever you can because that second code could save you in plenty of situations – even if you don’t realise it at the time. Password managers are handy too to help keep every password of yours unique and secure.

It’s also easy to overlook software updates on your devices but they patch up the little gaps that scammers love to try and wiggle through. Even if it’s a bit annoying to take the time to update it, it’s absolutely worth it.

The bottom line is that none of these things on their own is bulletproof. But put them all together and you’ve got a pretty strong, comprehensive security effort.