Welcome to Cybersecurity in 31 Days. I’m Malan Faya, your host. Today is Day 2. To view previous post, click here.

Through unsolicited messages, millions of people around the world become victims of cyber attacks daily. Electronic communication makes this less difficult.

Cybercriminals who wish to steal your personal information or organization’s confidential information usually send unsolicited messages to unsuspecting people through electronic means. Through various tricks, they try to fraudulently acquire your account login information or other sensitive information. This is identity theft. Never believe whatever they say. They are only phishing for your personal information.

Whenever you receive such unsolicited messages online or even offline (for example, SMS or phone calls), be very skeptical. Caution. Never provide your personal data. Never, even if the person claims to be your account manager or banker. No reputable organization or financial institution will ever use this method to alert you when personal information is involved. They don’t operate that way. The only people who do are “phishers” of personal identifiable information. Email requests or requests with electronic links are especially dangerous. Beware.

So avoid opening or replying to spam messages. Doing so only helps the sender or phisher identify that your email address, phone number, or social-media account is active and guarantees you will get further unsolicited messages. Without clicking on them, immediately delete these types of messages. Such messages hurt. And they hurt real bad.

Prevention, they say, is better than cure.