Clicked a Phishing Link? Here’s What To Do Now

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Worried you clicked on a phishing link? Follow these steps to protect your data and secure your devices. Read this guide now.

by Ahona Rudra

Reading Time: 7 min
Clicked a Phishing Link? Here’s What To Do Now
Table Of Contents−

Key Takeaways

  1. Phishing attacks have increased significantly, making it essential to recognize their common signs.
  2. Urgency in communication and requests for sensitive information are strong indicators of phishing attempts.
  3. Always verify the legitimacy of offers that seem too good to be true to avoid falling for fraud.
  4. If you suspect you have clicked on a phishing link, immediately disconnect from the internet to prevent further damage.
  5. Regularly changing passwords and backing up important data can help mitigate the impact of potential phishing attacks.

Phishing link or URL phishing is a common type of social engineering attacks. As per research conducted by the experts of Interisle Consulting Group, the number of phishing attacks has increased by 61% in 2022, reaching over 1 million incidents across the globe. The attackers have become sophisticated with their techniques, making it more challenging to read the red flags. 

That’s why we’ve prepared a guide that can help if you’ve clicked on a phishing link. Read till the end to know how to handle such mistakes and mitigate the impact. 

But before that, let’s just quickly see what phishing is and how it works.

URL phishing is a social engineering attack where hackers steal victims’ sensitive data like financial details, login credentials, professional documents, medical records, social security numbers, etc., for malicious purposes. This is done by sending fraudulent emails or messages that appear to come from legitimate sources, like reputed companies, where the recipients are asked to share such details. 

Malicious actors exploit the email domains of credible organizations to send emails and manipulate the victims into sharing the requested details. Companies can protect email domains and thus their reputation by investing in email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.

SPF ensures that only trusted IP addresses can send emails using your domain, while DKIM uses a signature method to verify the sender’s genuineness. Users should use the free SPF record checker tool to ensure an error-free and valid SPF record. 

On the other hand, a DMARC policy specifies how a recipient’s mail server should deal with unauthorized emails coming from your domain. This is done using one of the three policies- none, reject, and quarantine. 

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If you’ve accidentally clicked on a phishing link, it’s important to know what you can do to minimize the damage. Safeguarding compromised information and recovering from an attack has to be your priority. Here are the steps to take after clicking on a phishing link:

1. Disconnect Your Device From the Internet

Disconnecting from the internet will avert further damage and contain the spread of malware to other devices on the same network. It’ll also disable attackers from transferring any data from your device or accounts. If they’ve targeted your smartphones, turn on airplane mode. You must disable an Ethernet Connection in Windows 10 by going to the Wi-Fi network panel and selecting the network that has to be disconnected. 

2. Connect With Your Bank

Contact your bank and inform them to block all transactions until the next notice. This will prevent financial fraud in your name.

3. Backup Important Files

You should back up all the important files to an external hard drive, USB stick, or on cloud storage. You can follow the 3-2-1 backup strategy in which you should have at least three copies of your data. Two local, but on different media, and one off-site. 

Backing up files also prevents the chances of becoming a victim of a ransomware attack where hackers steal and encrypt data. They ask for a hefty ransom in exchange for the decryption key. Click here to know how to recover from a ransomware attack.

4. Change Usernames and Passwords

If a phishing link has taken you to a fake website where you’ve entered your login credentials, you must change them immediately. Also, use a password manager to make changing passwords across devices hassle-free. It’ll also help you create stronger passwords.

5. Scan Your System for Malware

Once you’ve disconnected from the internet, run an antivirus scan to remove or quarantine any suspicious files. If you don’t have an antivirus program, there’s no need to connect to the internet to download it. You can download it on any unaffected device and transfer using a USB stick. 

Take your device to an expert if you’re unsure about how these programs work. Also, stay away from free tools, as they themselves are nothing but malware-infected baits.

You can notice one or more of the following red flags if you’ve accidentally clicked on a phishing link. 

  • A Sense of Urgency in the Tone

Emails or messages with words like ‘as soon as possible,’ ‘in the next 10 minutes,’ ‘legal actions will be taken,’ ‘without any delay,’ etc. are loud alarms of being phishing links. Hackers use tricks to push you to take immediate action without scrutinizing the message.

  • Unusual Request for Sharing Sensitive Details

If you’ve received a request to share sensitive details like OTPs, passwords, social security numbers, financial details, etc., there’s a possibility that it’s a phishing link. Also, be wary of links directing you to login pages.

  • Hefty Offers

Don’t fall for offers that are too good to be true. An example includes a lottery that you didn’t participate in, a fully sponsored foreign trip, a massive discount, etc. These are nothing but baits to lure you into clicking phishing links.

  • Unfamiliar Sender and Unexpected Emails

Avoid replying to emails coming from an unknown and suspicious sender. Also, block senders of messages that have sent you receipts or updates of orders you never placed. 

  • Incorrect Information

If you witness any incorrect information in the email content or on visiting the phishing link, it’s a sign of fraudulent activity. It also includes links that don’t take you to the websites they claim to. You can check this by hovering the cursor over the link or hyperlinked icon without clicking it. You’ll see the real URL on the bottom left of the screen. Proceed only if you’re sure the link is harmless.

  • Suspicious Attachments

This includes attachments that might seem like gifts for your inbox. Be wary of files you never requested, weird file names, and unusual file types. 

  • Grammatical Mistakes and Unprofessional Graphics

Pay attention to spelling, grammar, and unprofessional graphics. Hackers don’t hire professional people to do such jobs; these mistakes are often seen in the content used for phishing attacks. So, always look out for incorrect or blurry logos, poor formatting, and vague language. 

How to Prevent Future Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks rely heavily on tricking people into revealing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links.

One of the most important steps you can take is learning to recognize the signs of a phishing scam. Watch for subtle clues such as email addresses that look similar to legitimate ones but contain typos or extra characters, urgent or threatening language designed to pressure you into acting quickly, and links or attachments that seem out of place.

Always hover your cursor over a link before clicking to check if the actual web address matches the sender’s claims. Be wary of emails that greet you with generic phrases like “Dear Customer” instead of using your real name, and notice any inconsistencies in branding, logos, or formatting that may signal a fraudulent message.

Another powerful defense against phishing is practicing good cybersecurity hygiene through ongoing training. Many organizations offer free or low-cost cybersecurity awareness programs that teach employees and individuals how to identify suspicious messages and report them.

Regular training ensures that phishing recognition skills remain sharp and that you stay informed about the latest scam techniques. Some well-regarded resources include the Federal Trade Commission’s online safety guides, cybersecurity courses on platforms like Coursera, and training modules from organizations such as the National Cybersecurity Alliance.

Finally, technology can serve as a strong safety net. Installing browser extensions or dedicated security software that block known phishing sites can greatly reduce your exposure to malicious content. Combined with strong spam filters, multi-factor authentication, and keeping your software up to date, these solutions create multiple layers of defense, making it far harder for phishing attempts to succeed.

Conclusion

Phishing threats are constantly evolving, and they can strike through any channel, including email, text, social media, or even calendar invites. The key to minimizing damage is acting quickly, the moment you spot a phishing email: report it, disconnect affected devices, and change compromised credentials immediately. 

Ongoing monitoring of your accounts and systems ensures that any breach is detected before it escalates. Staying vigilant is not a one-time task but an ongoing habit that strengthens your defense against cybercriminals. 

To further protect your organization’s email channels and stop phishing attacks before they reach your inbox, consider implementing a robust authentication solution like PowerDMARC, your proactive shield against email-based threats.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes. If the link leads to a malicious website or downloads harmful files, it can infect your phone with malware, spyware, or ransomware. In some cases, simply visiting the site can exploit vulnerabilities in your browser or operating system. This can result in stolen data, unauthorized account access, or even full device control by attackers.

If you suspect that clicking the link caused your phone to be compromised, a factory reset can be an effective anti-phishing measure, but it should be done after you back up important data and confirm the backup is clean. Before taking that step, run a reputable mobile antivirus scan, change all passwords from a secure device, and enable multi-factor authentication. If the problem persists, or you handle sensitive information, a reset is the safest route.

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