IT attacks know many forms. From virus applications that you install after they have been discharged from insecure sources and to multiple phishing forms through which confidential and valuable information is stolen. A first step to protect your accounts online, is to learn how to protect passwords against phishing.
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It is said that the best “antivirus” Against online attacks, it is the consciousness and vigilance of users. Awareness. Almost all phishing attacks are a success when the targets show naivety, ignorance and inattention.
Fortunately, Apple, Google, Microsoft and other great online players, make considerable efforts to protect users. From the limitations of the operating systems and installation of insecure applications (where Apple are famous), to authentication with two factors (Google Authenticator) and password protection solutions, integrated into the operating system. It is all to know and want to use these existing means of security, which can help us against theft of passwords, identity, bank cards and other personal information that can be exploited. For money.
How do you protect passwords against phishing on Windows 11
Starting with Windows 11 22H2, Microsoft has introduced feature Enhanced Phishing Protection in Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, for Protecting users against phishing who aims accounts of accounts.
This protection works in the form of a module included in the Windows 11 security system, and monitors the use of passwords at school or at work.
The system Enhanced Phishing Protection acts in three directions:
1. Alerting users when I enter the password at work or school, on an uncertain or considered dangerous site that the user access in any browser Chromium. Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
This protection is very important for users who use identical passwords for both the service or school applications, as well as access to social networks, blogs, forums or other applications. The recommendation is to have unique passwords for each account or service to which you authenticate. To change the passwords that are used both at work or at school, as well as on websites or unsafe applications. It is a very effective way in which you can protect passwords against phishing.
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen It will request the change of password in case it detects its use at work and on unsafe websites.
2. Alert in case Microsoft account password used at work or school, is used on other website-uri or applications. Microsoft account is stored very important data and documents, especially by users OneDrive and Microsoft 365.
3. It is almost impossible for a user to remember all accounts and passwords for social networks, e-mail, forums, websites, if they are unique. It is recommended to use the Password Manager type applications and in no way saving them in text files, such as: Notepad, Word, OneNote, Evernote or Similar.
Enhanced Phishing Protection Detects when a password is saved in this type of applications and warns the user.
In Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25324 A type alert is also entered “dialog box” When the user makes copy / pasta to a password in an uncertain application. Unsafe password copy and paste warnings. Password reuse is a security risk.
option Windows Security, Password reuse is a security risk is currently available only for part of users Canary Channel.
The other options, however, are dispovers for all Windows 11 users.
How do you activate Phishing Protection for passwords in Windows 11
1. In the search bar in Taskbar or from Start, write “Windows Security” And open the application.
2. In Windows Security go to the left side at “App & browser control”, then to “Reputation-based protection settings“.
3. In Reputation-based Protection Settings activate the options below Phishing Protection.
Once these options are activated, you will be alert if the password used for Windows 11 authentication is also used for authentication on websites, online applications or other insecure environments. Unfortunately, not at present there is no extended system that detects the passwords used on compromised or unsafe websites, as Apple offers support on Mac and iPhone.
Regarding protection against phishing, you may also be interested in the articles:
- How do you protect yourself from a phishing attack by email-awareness
- How to protect our banking banking accounts (phishing scams)
- How do we find out if a site (web page) wants to steal our bank card data or is it reliable? Pay safely!
- How we choose strong passwords for online accounts - awareness
Conclusion: How to protect passwords against phishing on Windows 11
The basic word is: attention. Do not use your personal e-mail address or the one from the service for integration on forums, social networks and in no form do you use identical passwords. For uncertain or less important environments, it is good to have a dedicated e-mail password and passwords compared to those used for bank applications, at work or at school.
Choose strong passwords, made up of combinations containing upper case letters, lower case, figures and special characters.
Enable two factors authentication or biometric authentication where these options are available.
- Authentication without passwords in accounts - Passwordless Authentication
- How we choose strong passwords for online accounts - awareness
Awareness.
