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How to Identify and Protect Yourself from Phishing Emails

Last updated on Aug 15, 2025

How to Identify and Protect Yourself from Phishing Emails

**Description:**This comprehensive guide will help you recognize fraudulent emails, understand common phishing tactics, and protect yourself—all without the need for advanced technical expertise. As a shared hosting customer, you play a vital role in keeping your information and website secure.

What Is a Phishing Email?

A phishing email is a fraudulent message designed to trick you into revealing sensitive information (like passwords or payment details), clicking malicious links, or installing malware. Attackers often impersonate trustworthy organizations, including hosting providers, banks, or even your own company.

How to Recognize a Phishing Email

Even the most convincing emails can be fakes. Watch for these common signs:

1. Suspicious Sender Address

  • The sender’s email address may look similar but is slightly altered (e.g., support@brixly-help.com instead of support@brixly.uk).
  • Hover over the sender's name to see the actual email address.

2. Urgent or Threatening Language

  • Claims your account will be suspended or compromised if you don’t act immediately.
  • Requests for urgent login or payment.

3. Generic Greetings

  • Uses phrases like Dear Customer instead of your real name.

4. Spelling and Grammar Errors

  • Poor spelling, awkward phrasing, and incorrect grammar are common in phishing attempts.

5. Suspicious Links or Attachments

  • Links may look correct but direct to a different site.
  • Attachments may be disguised malware.

Example:

From: Brixly Support <support@brixly-support.co>
Subject: Action Required! Your account will be suspended
Body: Dear Customer, Please click the link below to verify your account or your hosting will be suspended in 24 hours.
[Verify Now](http://malicious-link.com)

How to Protect Yourself

1. Never Click Suspicious Links

  • Hover over links to see the real destination.
  • If unsure, access your hosting account by typing the official address directly into your browser.

2. Don’t Download Unexpected Attachments

  • Never open attachments from unknown or suspicious sources.

3. Verify with Your Hosting Provider

  • Contact us directly using the details from our official website if you receive a suspicious email.

4. Use Strong, Unique Passwords

  • Avoid reusing passwords across accounts.
  • Change your hosting and email passwords regularly via cPanel.

5. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

  • If available, enable 2FA for your hosting account and email.

6. Keep Your Software Updated

  • Regularly update your CMS, plugins, and themes using cPanel File Manager or your website dashboard.

What to Do If You Suspect a Phishing Email

  1. Do not reply, click links, or open attachments.
  2. Report the email to us through your client area or support portal.
  3. Delete the email from your inbox and trash folder.
  4. If you accidentally clicked a link or entered your details:
    • Change your passwords immediately via cPanel or your client area.
    • Run a malware scan on your website using cPanel's Virus Scanner or WordPress security plugins (e.g., Wordfence, Sucuri).

Troubleshooting and Recovery

Accidentally Clicked a Phishing Link?

  • Change your hosting, email, and website admin passwords at once.
  • Review your cPanel account for unauthorized changes (check File Manager and Email Accounts).
  • Run a malware scan on your website using the available security tools in cPanel.
  • Notify our support team if you notice suspicious activity.

Emails Not Arriving or Going to Spam?

  • Sometimes, legitimate emails may get flagged when spam protection is too aggressive.
  • Check your spam/junk folder.
  • Add important contacts (like Brixly support) to your email whitelist.

Useful Tools & Resources

  • cPanel File Manager: For checking files and restoring backups.
  • cPanel Virus Scanner: Scan your hosting account for malware.
  • Webmail: Access your email securely:https://yourdomain.com/webmail
  • Password Manager: Use tools like LastPass or Bitwarden for secure password storage.
  • Brixly Email Hosting Knowledge Base

Summary

Phishing emails are a common threat, but with vigilance and a few simple precautions, you can keep your hosting account and website safe. Remember:

  • When in doubt, don’t click or reply—verify first!
  • Keep passwords strong and unique.
  • Use cPanel’s built-in security tools to scan for threats.

*Need further help?*If you think your account may be compromised or have questions about email security, please open a support ticket through your client area with as much detail as possible.

Stay safe and secure online!