Phishing Expedition

Written by: Nurit Amichai, Executive Contributor

Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.

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A few weeks ago, I experienced something that actually scared me. Now, I’m not given to getting freaked out about things. I’ve been on the planet a long time. I’ve done too many “dangerous” things to mention. I’ve served in the military, raised three kids, two of them boys, started businesses and just started another one as I hit my mid-70s, I live in the Middle East … you get the picture.

Getting scared isn’t the norm for me.

However,

One evening as I was sitting at my desk working, suddenly I lost control of my laptop. The cursor began to move on its own across the page and clicked on certain headings – I was no longer in control of my computer. My heart jumped into my throat. What the…?? Of course, I immediately shut the computer off, unplugged it and removed the battery. Whether all of that was necessary is not the issue for me – I was in emergency mode and did what I believed was the best thing to do.

My computer guy kept the unit for a couple of days, questioned me vigorously and then cleaned and stabilized my laptop. When I went to pick it up, I told him that the incident actually scared me. His response was: Why? It’s actually no worse than having a burglar break into your house.

Comforting, no?

The incident gave me serious cause to pause… and ponder.

As a person in what is considered the “senior” years of life, the experience caused me to reflect upon how easy it is for people like me, those who didn’t grow up with the technology that is just part and parcel of normal day-to-day life now, to get caught by surprise when some unsavoury character(s) decides to go phishing. I’m guessing a good many of us have little idea of what that means and probably have been the phish at the end of the line at one time or another.

So, how did this happen to me?

I received an invoice from Norton Antivirus. It looked very legitimate, numbered, official, etc. Now, I know you’re thinking – geese, she can’t be serious. Really? She didn’t know? Well, no, I didn’t know and it didn’t take a lot of clicks to get caught on the hook of these tricksters. Thankfully, they didn’t manage to get farther than they did – but the very fact that they were able to take over my computer with little to no information is more than stunning. The genius out there is blinding. What a waste of talent. These brilliant minds could be used for much more than ripping people off.

Takeaways

There are some takeaways from this episode: First of all, everyone (regardless of age) needs to be encouraged to become educated about the facts around phishing. I have learned a lot; what to watch out for; what to do if I suspect I’ve been targeted; who to contact (this part could use some simplifying). Second; no need to be embarrassed or shamed over it. It happens. And, it happens to really smart, sophisticated computer-savvy people as well as folks who aren’t computer techs. Third, sadly, it’s necessary to pull back the trust factor. Many of us are just way too trusting and it’s unfortunate that we can’t live our lives like we used to.

The phishing expedition was a great learning experience. While the predators were frustrated in their attempt to steal from me, the entire situation forced me to become better educated about life in the Technosphere. It’s a lesson I hope can be used to help others.

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Nurit Amichai, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Nurit Amichai is a holistic therapist and life coach who provides individuals with an opportunity to strip away old, unproductive and damaging habits and create new, lasting behaviors that support the dynamic and powerful life they really want to live. As a result of a devastating illness, she set about rebuilding her body and life through nutrition and fitness. Realizing that wasn't enough, she entered the personal growth world where she allowed her truths to surface by giving herself permission to face and then release the pain and self-destructive behaviors she had harbored for so many years. This experience birthed the desire to share these lessons and gifts with others. She has merged all of the disciplines learned over decades — nutrition, fitness, and mental and emotional health — into the true passion of her life: to help people heal and gain optimal health, giving her clients the benefit of many years of learning and experience, coaching them and giving them tools for finding fulfillment and unleashing their own personal power.