MAKATI — During these trying times, you may have already encountered schemes that leverage fear and anxiety to make you click and respond to malicious communications. Number one rule is not to panic, always check the source.

Be aware and know how to respond when you encounter malicious communication. Here are some tips:

• Know how to spot a suspicious emails. You can always check email address by hovering over it with your mouse.

• If you receive suspicious emails from your colleagues, family members or friend, validate the message directly from the person before opening or responding.

• Do not click questionable ads, links or emails. Go directly to reputable websites especially when you do online shopping.

• Always patch your computer with security updates, this will help protect your devices from malware, phishing attacks, email spoofing and other threats.

Always stay safe physically and virtually.