Star Wars movies & series, chronological order

Besides Star Trek, Star Wars was one of my favorite movie franchises, as a kid, it was the first movie I have seen in Theatre and over the years I have rewatched and reached each entry in the franchise. It has significantly grown over the years, sometimes for worse, sometimes for better but what it always did is explored and expanded lore, characters and brought stories interesting and original enough.

The Series has always been original and innovative enough with interesting characters and locations and it managed to capture the imagination of many viewers around the globe.

If you or someone else is watching the franchise for the first time it is recommended actually to watch everything how it was released because of some information that is spoiled in prequels that could spoil some interesting revelations later. But if you have already watched everything and would like to follow the story from the beginning to end we are presenting you with the list of all TV series and movies in tar Wars canon in their chronological order so you can enjoy some good character developments and see the whole story unfold how it was meant to be.

In the following list, as told, we are including TV series (both released and currently in production) in the Star Wars canon.

Chronological order of Star Wars franchise:

Star Wars: The Acolyte
Acolyte is upcoming TV series exploring times in the old republic and the rise of the dark side within

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
The first movie entry in the franchise introducing some key characters who will go through various adventures yet to come

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Continuation of story and deepening of the plot laid out in the previous movie

Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Animated TV series exploring war in more detail, set in the period between episodes 2 and 3, before series there is clone wars full length animated movie titles simply as Star wars clone wars serving as a pilot to series.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Last movie in so-called prequel trilogy finishing some stories and finalizing some character arcs

Star Wars: The Bad Batch
Upcoming animated series Bad batch will focus on few troopers find their way in changing the galaxy

Solo: A Star Wars Story
Story of everyone loved Han Solo character, this origin story will introduce you to some key characters in the later entry of series

Obi-Wan Kenobi
Upcoming series that will focus on everyone's favorite JEDI master Obi-Wan

Star Wars Rebels
Animated series exploring first sparks of forming rebel alliance against dreaded empire

Andor
Upcoming series set five years before the events of Rogue One, the series follows rebel spy Cassian Andor during the formative years of the Rebellion.

Star Wars Rogue One
Full feature movie setting up events for episode 4

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
First Star Wars movie, little outdated today with special effects but with a strong story and introducing some new characters which will become main icons of franchise

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Arguably the best movie in the whole series, leaning more to serious note and darker than previous entries. Besides Episode 3 this is the most serious and dark movie of the series.

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Last movie entry in the so-called original trilogy, finishing some stories and wrapping up one era.

Star Wars The Mandalorian
Set after episode 6 show focuses on a Mandalorian bounty hunter character following his adventures in the galaxy.

The Book of Boba Fett
Upcoming Mandalorian spin-off TV series focusing on Bobba Fet, one of most loved bounty hunter characters in the Star Wars universe

Ahsoka
Star Wars: Ahsoka is an upcoming live-action television limited series exploring the character of Ashoka Tano first seen in Clone Wars

Rangers of the New Republic
Set within the timeline of The Mandalorian, Rangers of the New Republic is a new upcoming live-action series.

Star Wars: Resistance
Animated series exploring resistance against first-order setting up events to be followed in the newest trilogy of movies.

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
First full feature movie set in the post-empire era introducing new characters and bringing back some fan favorites.

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
The second movie in the last order trilogy, continuing stories of previously establishes characters

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
Last entry in new order trilogy of movies, finishing some open stories and concluding arcs for characters previously introduced in Force Awakens.

That's it, chronological order of canon TV shows and movies of the Star Wars franchise. We are sure there will be more movies and shows in the future and someday we will revisit this list to include them as well. Until then, may the force be with you.

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How to fix Windows 10 Store Error 0x801901F7

Error Code 0x801901F7 – What is it?

Error code 0x801901F7, also known as “The Server Stumbled” error because it shows a message saying “The Server Stumbled. We all have bad days” is associated with Windows Store. Server Stumbled Error 0x801901F7 is an error related to the MS server. The error occurs due to damaged registry files, malware, virus, and corrupted data. You should fix this error to prevent a system crash or a BSOD error. There are some things you can do to fix it. These are not so complex. So, anyone can try these methods to fix error 0x801901F7. Common Symptoms for error 0x801901F7:
  • Problems with Windows startup
  • System becomes very slow or the system freezes
  • Blue screen of death appears
  • Windows fails to start some process due to Stop error code 0x801901f7

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

  • This error is generally caused by corrupt registry files.
  • Virus infection can cause this problem.
  • Outdated driver, missing .DLL files may also cause this error.
  • Microsoft server overload may cause this problem as well.
  • Incorrect configuration may cause this problem.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To fix error 0x801901f7, there are four methods listed below. Some might work for you and some might not. Please try all of them to fix this error.

Method 1:

Basic method to fix error code 0x801901F7: Resetting Windows Store Cache Most of the time clearing or resetting the cache helps. It doesn't always work, but you should try this first before moving on to some advanced methods which are mentioned below. To reset the Windows Store cache please follow the simple steps below
  • Open RUN by searching or pressing "Windows Key + R"
  • Type "wsreset.exe" and press Enter or click on OK.
  • Windows Store will open automatically along with a command prompt.
  • This will reset Windows Store and you might see it loading as it should.
This method might work but if it fails to solve Error 0x801901F7 then follow the method below.

Method 2:

Advanced method of fixing error code 0x801901F7: Deleting Windows Store database file. By using this method, you will be deleting the database file for Windows Store. This file is located on your C drive or the drive where you installed your Operating System. Follow the steps below.
  1. Navigate to C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDataStoreDataStore.edb.
  2. Delete DataStore.edb file from there.
  3. Now Open Windows Store and see if you still get error code 0x801901F7.
The Datastore.edb file that you deleted will be automatically created once you perform Step 3 which is launching Windows Store. If you still cannot get this error away then Close Windows Store and Reboot your PC then Launch Windows Store Again.

Method 3:

Modifying Windows update properties: Perform the steps below only if the above-mentioned methods fail. You will be tweaking a few things in the Windows update to see if it helps.
  1. Open Task Manager by right-clicking on Taskbar, then click on Task Manager.
  2. Go to Services Tab. Click on Open Services at the very bottom of the Window.
  3. Now a new window will pop up. Scroll down & find "Windows Update" from the list.
  4. Double click on Windows update to open up its Properties.
  5. Now from the Startup Type drop-down list, select Automatic. Click on Apply, Start, and then Ok.
Now you need to perform just one more step. Reset Windows Store again (Refer to method 1 for Steps). This should fix your Windows Store error that shows The Server Stumbled with 0x801901F7 Error Code.

Method 4: 

If the error is due to a problem with a driver, then follow the method below to uninstall the current driver:
  1. Open the Run command and type “sysdm.cpl” in the text box.
  2. Click Enter.
  3. Open the Hardware tab on the system properties dialog box.
  4. Then press on Device Manager.
  5. Double press on Device type and then press on the hardware device that is reporting error code 0x801901F7.
  6. Go to the Driver tab and press on Uninstall button to uninstall the device driver completely.
  7. Now, install the new driver on your computer.
  8. Restart your computer.
  9. Run virus scan of your PC
  10. Try using a different USB port.
If you do not possess the technical expertise required to accomplish this yourself or do not feel comfortable doing so, download and install a powerful automated tool to get the job done.
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Fix One Drive Error: This is not a valid file name
As you know, Microsoft’s consumer cloud storage platform is none other than OneDrive. It is where users can save any of their files albeit it’s mostly used to store common files like documents and photos. However, there are times when you might encounter some problems when saving these files. Recently, some users reported that they had problems saving Word documents to OneDrive and if you experience the same issue, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how to resolve it. According to users who encountered the problem, when they try to save Word documents on OneDrive, an error message appears instead stating, “This is not a valid file name”. This kind of error only occurs when the file is opened from within OneDrive for saving in a different folder. In other words, if the file is saved in the same folder, the error won’t pop up but if it is saved in a separate folder, that’s when the error appears. Worry not though for fixing this error is not complicated and won’t take too long. It seems that this error is due to the 259-character limitation when creating and saving files as far as the Office products are concerned. To resolve it, there are several workarounds you can check out. Before you proceed with these workarounds, make sure that you have a stable internet connection.

Option 1 – Try renaming the file with a shorter name

The first thing you can do to fix the problem is to rename the file with a shorter name. Just right-click on the file and select the Rename option from the menu and then type in the new name and click OK or tap Enter to rename the file.

Option 2 – Try renaming the folders where the file is located

Like what you did in the first given option, all it takes is a right-click but this time on a folder. Rename the folder with a different name and save the changes made and then check if you can now save the Word document on OneDrive.

Option 3 – Try moving the file to a folder with a shorter path

If the first two options didn’t work, you can try moving the file to a folder with a shorter path. Note that it is not the same as doing it locally on a Windows 10 computer so you have to right-click on the file and select the “Move to” option. After that, locate the folder where you want to move the file and select it and then click on the Move button to complete the task.

Option 4 – Try making some changes in the document

You could also try to make some modifications to the document. Once you’ve done that, click the File tab and select the Save As option and then go to the folder where you want to save the file and tap enter.
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Fix 0xC03A0005 error in Windows 10
When performing a Windows Backup to the NAS device (backup to a network share) that is running Samba, fails with an error message The backup failed, The version does not support this version of the file format (0xC03A0005). The problem occurs because of a conflict with the VHD file that is created by Windows Backup and is mounted during the process. There are three types of VHD files:
  1. Fixed,
  2. Expandable
  3. Differencing
If the VHD file is a sparse file that is not supported by the native VHD driver, the mounting will fail, and you will get this error. An example VHD file is one that keeps expanding depending on the backup size. The problem occurs only in the case of  File Level backup (file/folders in a volume) but not on the block level backup as the vhd file is never mounted. However, in the case of File Level Backup, the vhd is mounted, created by Windows Backup, which does not support the mounting of sparse files.

The solution is to use Strict Allocate: option in the smb.conf file

Login to SMB using SSH. Open the configuration file using the VI editor located at /etc/samba/smb.conf. If the option is not there, you can manually add strict allocate = yes which will make sure there are no sparse file that is created.
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SettingSyncHost.exe High CPU usage
One of the important processes in the Windows operating system is the Setting Synchronization or SettingSyncHost.exe. This process is the one responsible for synchronizing the settings of your computer with other devices. It is the one that replicates settings like OneDrive, Internet Explorer, wallpapers, and so on, to other systems. However, it has been known to cause high CPU usage in Windows 10 and there are times when it causes the system to freeze or system lags. So if you notice that the SettingSyncHost.exe process is causing high CPU usage in your computer, worry not for this post will guide you in fixing them. You have to be cautious when you notice high CPU usages caused by system processes since cybercriminals mostly set the names of viruses in a way that the system or the user won’t be able to identify them. Cyber crooks could name the virus and malware the same as one of the system processes like SettingSyncHost.exe to make it seem like it’s a legitimate process. Thus, you need to keep in mind that original system processes like the SettingSyncHost.exe file are located in the System32 folder. The original SettingSyncHost.exe file is located in the System32 folder. To check for the same, right-click on the troublesome process in the Task Manager and select Open file location. If the place is any other than the System32 folder, run a full system anti-virus scan on the system. The SettingSyncHost.exe causes high CPU usage when it gets stuck in the sync process and is not able to come out of the loop. To fix this problem, you need to follow the solutions offered below but before you proceed, make sure that you create a System Restore point first.

Option 1 – Apply some registry tweak

The first thing you can do is to apply some tweaks to the Windows Registry. To get started, follow these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and then tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  • Next, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInputPersonalizationTrainedDataStore
  • From there, right-click on the key and select Permissions.
  • After that, check the box next to “Allow” for Full Permission for every user group.
  • Now click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made.
  • Then restart your computer.

Option 2 – Close the Host process for setting synchronization

If the registry tweak didn’t work, you can try to close the host process for setting synchronization, especially if this process continues to hog resources. You can terminate this process by opening the Task Manager. From there, end the process or task of the host process. On the other hand, you can also turn off the Host process for synchronization by opening Settings > Accounts > Sync settings located in the left pane. After that, turn off the Sync setting.

Option 3 – Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter or the Performance Troubleshooter

Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter:

  • The first thing you need to do is click on Start and then on the gear-like icon to pull up the window for Settings.
  • After opening Settings, look for the Update and Security option and select it.
  • From there, go to the Troubleshoot option located on the left-hand side of the list.
  • Next, select Hardware and Devices from the list and open the Troubleshooter and run it. Once it is doing its job, wait for it to complete the process and then restart the system.
  • After the system restarts, check if the problem’s now fixed. If not, refer to the next option given below.

Performance Troubleshooter:

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Type “exe /id PerformanceDiagnostic” in the field and hit Enter to open the Performance troubleshooter.
  • Then click on Next to get started. Wait until the process is completed.

Option 4 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender

As mentioned, it is possible that the SettingSyncHost.exe could be infected with a virus or malware. To eliminate it, you have to scan your computer using security programs like Windows Defender.
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
  • Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
  • Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
  • Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.
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Guide to Fixing 0x80040600 Error

What Is 0x80040600 Error?

The 0x80040600 error is a common error that becomes particularly distressing for Outlook users. This error prevents users from sending or receiving emails through Microsoft Outlook. Users may also encounter this problem while altering an entry on the calendar or adding a new contact. There is no obvious message that is displayed to the user when this error occurs. However, Outlook displays a vague message that includes the code 0x80040600.

Solution

Download available to recover all lost Outlook data

Restoro box imageError Causes

The primary cause of this error is a problem with the PST file. When the PST file is corrupt, missing, or damaged, this error occurs at once. The PST file is essentially an important file that stores crucial and personal information of an individual’s accounts. Sometimes this error is because the file is corrupt while at other times, the reason that it occurs is that the file is too full to accommodate any further information. Irrespective of the causes of this problem, it is important that this error is promptly fixed to ensure the proper and uninterrupted functioning of Outlook in the future.

Further Information and Manual Repair

The error occurs because the Outlook application encounters problems while attempting to receive, send or read emails. Some solutions that can work wonders and help you get rid of the problem are outlined below.
  • As soon as the error appears, the first solution is to restart the system. This is the first thing that must be done because a lot of times, these errors can be removed by simply restarting the system. This will, hence, save the user the inconvenience of manually fixing this problem.
If restarting the system doesn’t resolve the problem and the error message displays again, it is advised the user makes use of the ‘Inbox Repair Tool’. This is the most commonly used and effective approach to fixing a corrupt PST file. The procedure to remedy this Personal Storage Table file or PST file is listed below.
  • Go to the start menu. Type Run and launch the Inbox Repair Tool by typing the following path:  drive name: Program FilesCommon FilesSystemMapiLocale IDscanpst.exe. Now click Ok. A pop-up message will appear. Enter the file name and path of the damaged PST file. Now click on the Start button. Here it is important to mention that the inbox repair tool may take a long time depending upon the file size and the amount of data that has to be recovered. However, it is the most effective way of fixing this problem.
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Disable non MS store apps in Windows 11
Disable non MS store apps in Windows 11 post pictureYou can prevent starting of app installations files if they have not come from the MS store inside Windows 11. This can make your PC more secure because all apps in the store will have to be digitally signed and overall it can provide you with more control over what will be installed. Follow the guide below to find out how can you easily turn this feature ON.
  1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + I to open Windows settings
  2. Select Apps and then choose Apps & Features
  3. Click on Choose where to get apps to bring a drop-down menu
  4. Select The Microsoft Store only (Recommended)
  5. Close settings
Settings will apply changes immediately and you continue using Windows right away. With these settings turned ON if you want to install a downloaded application or run the installer you will not be able to, and message The app you’re trying to install isn’t a Microsoft-verified app will show on your screen. You can always reverse this setting by choosing Anywhere in settings instead of Microsoft store only.
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KFConsole enters the console competition
Yes, you read that right, KFC is making a console partnered with Cooler Master. Bizzare at it sounds, it is even more bizarre that the console is designed to keep your food warm!!! You can pull out the drawer from the console out on its top and place some food there in order to keep it warm. kfconsole drawerThe console itself is coming in cylindrical shape powered by Intel CPU and ASUS GPU of the unknown chipset. It has Seagate Baraccuda 1TB SSD and it is VR-ready. The console will have raytracing and will be 4K ready.

My thoughts

Well, my thoughts are somewhat strange, on one side I am not really sold on food heating gimmicks and without specific hardware specifications, it is difficult to say how much power the console will have. Price is also not leaked so that is also a stumbling stone for making an informed opinion. I am a little puzzled and concerned about this whole heating food thing because personally, I can see 2 issues: Console overheating and fat dripping on inside hardware, I am sure they have somehow eliminated this but I would be very interested to see how.
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Something happened, we couldn’t start upgrade
As you know, each one of the Windows 10 versions is priced differently and one of the considered more expensive compared to the Windows 10 Home version is the Windows10 Pro. The good thing is, Microsoft allows its users to upgrade from the Windows 10 Home version to the Windows 10 Pro version at a reasonable cost instead of buying the entire license again. However, upgrading your Windows 10 computer is not always that easy and you might encounter some errors along the way. One of the reported errors you could encounter is an error message that says, “Something happened, and we couldn’t start the upgrade”. This kind of problem is due to the problems with the Microsoft Store or the key authorization and to fix it, there are several options you can check out. You can try to run the built-in troubleshooters such as the Windows Update troubleshooter, Windows Store Apps troubleshooter, or Microsoft Accounts troubleshooter. You could also try to reset the Windows Store cache or re-register the Windows Store app. For more details, refer to each one of the given options below.

Option 1 – Try to run the Microsoft Accounts troubleshooter

Since the Microsoft Accounts troubleshooter is not built-in into the Windows operating system, you can download this troubleshooter by clicking on this link.

Option 2 – Try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the “Something happened, and we couldn’t start the upgrade” error. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

Option 3 – Run the Windows Store App troubleshooter

The Windows 10 Store Apps Troubleshooter will help you in fixing the problem in Microsoft Store. This is a great built-in tool from Microsoft that helps users fix any app issues. To use the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter, follow the steps below.
  • Tap Win + I keys again to open the Windows Settings panel.
  • Go to Update & Security and then go to Troubleshoot.
  • Under the Troubleshoot section, on your left-hand side, scroll down to find Window Store Apps.
  • Then click on the Run the troubleshooter option and follow the on-screen instructions and then see if it fixes the problem.

Option 4 – Try to reset the Microsoft Store cache

As you know, like any other apps, Microsoft Store also caches as you view apps and games so it is most likely that the cache is no longer valid and must be removed. To do so, follow the steps below.
  • Right-click on the start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator).
  • Next, type in the command, “wsreset.exe” and tap Enter. Once you do, the command will clear the cache for the Windows Store app.
  • Now restart your PC and afterward, try opening Microsoft Store again and then try to install your app or update your computer again.

Option 5 – Try to re-register the Microsoft Store app via Windows PowerShell

  • Tap the Win + X key combination or right-click on the Start button and click on the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option.
  • If a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed and open the Windows PowerShell window.
  • Next, type in or copy-paste the following command to re-register the Microsoft Store app and tap Enter:
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRootWinStoreAppxManifest.xml
  • Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.

Option 6 – Try contacting Microsoft

If none of the options worked, you might also want to contact Microsoft for further assistance in fixing the error.
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Installing Wi-Fi drivers in Windows
If you don’t have the required drivers installed in your computer, the hardware that you try to connect to your computer will most likely fail. In order to keep the operating system running on your computer, manufacturers develop drivers that can work harmoniously with your devices and applications. However, internet Wi-Fi connections can fail if suitable drivers are not installed. Worry not though for this post will guide you in installing Wi-Fi drivers on your Windows 10 computer. As you know, a driver is an essential piece of software designed for a specific operating system like Windows 10, Linux, and many more. The operating system uses it to communicate with other hardware devices such as printers and mice. Most hardware manufacturers feature a support page of their own product where you can look for the necessary drivers available for download. You will see that the Windows operating system has a set of drivers that are already installed and you do not have to do anything except plug in the device. So if the driver is not locally available, it will pull it down from its web server and automatically install it for you after you connect the device. However, there are instances when you might encounter some issues while using your Wi-Fi and during these times, you might have to reinstall your Wi-Fi drivers so read on as this post will provide you guidelines in installing Wi-Fi drivers in Windows 10. Refer to the steps below to do so. Step 1: First, go to your manufacturer’s website and look for the right driver you want to install to download your Wi-Fi driver. Step 2: After that, you have to download the correct Wi-Fi driver if it’s available. You have to know the exact name and version of the driver so that you can download it and this information can be found from the Device Manager. Just make sure that you have the right wireless adapter driver downloaded. Step 3: Once done, open the setup of the new driver that you’ve downloaded earlier and run the file and then follow the next on-screen instructions that appear right after. Step 4: You’re not done yet as you need to verify if you have downloaded and installed the correct Wi-Fi driver. Refer to the sub-steps below to do so:
  • First, right-click on the Start button and select the Device Manager to open it.
  • From there, look for the Network Adapters and expand its category to make all the network adapters visible including the wireless adapter.
  • You can easily spot the wireless adapter as it has the “wireless” term in its entry.
  • Next, right-click on the wireless driver entry in the Device Manager and select Network adapters, and then click on Properties to check the version number of the driver.
  • Now select the Driver tab and view the details. If it looks well then it means that you have the right version of the driver installed.
Step 5: Restart your computer.
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What Is Phishing And How Can You Protect Yourself From It?

Ever gotten an e-mail offer that seemed just a little bit too good to be true? Might’ve been a phishing attempt! These are everywhere and can come in many different forms. 

So what’s phishing exactly, how can you detect it and how can you keep safe?

What is phishing?

Phishing (pronounced like fishing) is a type of cyberattack that tricks the user into trusting the source and revealing sensitive information. Fishing being the perfect analogy, the bait is a legitimate-looking site, e-mail or file and when you take a bite, your identity, banking information and much more can be revealed and stolen.

Phishing Illustration
Credit: Anne Nygård on Unsplash

Some phishing attempts are incredibly obvious, others are super elaborate. Like with most types of malware, cybercriminals have become extremely well-versed in phishing and anyone can fall for it. To help you recognize and avoid it, we’ll take you through a couple of phishing types and give you tips on what to do if faced with them.

Phishing techniques

E-mail phishing

This is actually the most common type of phishing. A cybercriminal creates an e-mail containing stuff like attractive offers, legitimate-looking attachments or links and makes it appear as though it’s coming from a trusted source.

Illustration of Email Phishing
Credit: Justin Morgan on Unsplash

For example, it looks like it’s coming from your bank or your favorite retailer. The logo looks legit and the structure of the e-mail seems familiar, so you might get tricked into clicking on whatever clickable content is in it.

Unfortunately this exposes your device to malware that hands your data off to the hacker, who can decide what to do with it further.

SMS and social media phishing

Like the above example, you could be approached with lucrative offers or links via text messages or social media messages. Typically, the messages seem relevant to the user as they will be made to look like they’re related to apps or services you’re using.

Voice phishing

Voice phishing attacks are schemes that appear as though they’re coming from a credible number. Normally, you’ll get a call about something related to credit cards or taxes to get you into a state of worry, leading you to disclose personal information on the phone.

Spear phishing, whaling and BEC

Spear phishing normally targets specific individuals within a company who are likely to have access to sensitive data. Spear phishers spend time collecting information they can use to reach out to the individual looking as trustworthy as possible. They’ll typically lead with something relevant, for example mentioning an upcoming company event, and make a seemingly legitimate request.

Whaling is a more elaborate form of spear phishing, which targets people in even stronger positions such as executives or high-value individuals. The ultimate goal is to get them to transfer financial or other sensitive information that can be used to compromise the entire business.

Spear Phishing Illustration
Credit: Azamat E on Unsplash

BEC, or Business e-mail compromise, is a specific spear phishing technique carried out via e-mail. While there are many ways this is done, most commonly you’ll see instances where the phisher poses as a CEO or similar executive, or as a lower-level employee in specific positions (e.g. sales managers or financial controllers).

In the first situation, the impersonator reaches out to employees requesting them to transfer certain files or pay invoices. In the second situation, the phisher takes control of the employee’s e-mail account and sends false instructions to other employees in order to obtain data and information from them.

What can you do?

There are many ways you can be aware and spot a phishing attempt. Here are some tips:

  • Always check the sender’s address in your e-mails, even when they seem to come from a familiar source.
  • In any instance where payment information is requested, be very, very careful.
  • If you are receiving attachments you never asked for and definitely didn’t expect, better not click on them. 
  • Beware of content that transmits a sense of urgency (sales deals, urgent updates to login credentials, etc.).
  • Bad spelling and grammar are usually a telltale sign of phishing.
  • Links that look shortened (e.g. Bit.ly) or just suspicious in general - if you have a bad feeling, do not click on them.
  • If you are receiving threats, you probably shouldn’t be clicking on anything in that message.
  • Always examine first-time senders in detail.
  • Block suspicious e-mail addresses, numbers and social media accounts.
  • If you are receiving a coupon for free stuff… You aren’t.
  • If you’re being asked to update your payment details by a service you use, such as Netflix, chances are it’s an impersonator.

Those are some of the ways to identify and prevent phishing attacks. However, sometimes phishers disguise themselves a little too well or a misclick happens and there you go - you’ve been exposed to malware.

Illustration of a Lock on Keyboard Keys
Credit: FLY:D on Unsplash

This won’t happen if you invest in powerful protection software from the get-go, though. A good antivirus program like Bitdefender will keep you safe from becoming a victim of phishing scams. In fact, it will protect you from malicious attacks overall.

Be it your household or your business you’re concerned about, there are a bunch of different packages and options available, providing different kinds of cybersecurity services. That’s the only way you can ever really be sure you aren’t at risk of a digital attack.

Summary

Have you ever been targeted by phishers and didn’t know that’s what it was until you read this article? Many can relate. Protect yourself before it’s too late!

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