Opened too many tabs? Here’s a cyber trick that can catch you off guard

What is tabnabbing,  the sneaky online scam every serial tab opener should know about

You’ve probably all experienced this situation. Halfway through the day you look at your browser to find that you have more tabs than you can count. Today, it’s how we all use the internet. Did you know, however, that this seemingly harmless habit can actually expose you to a very sneaky cyberattack. This is called tabnabbing and it’s back.

What is tabnabbing? Why are police now warning people about it

You might not have heard the word before, but tabnabbing isn’t new—it’s just been quietly bubbling away in the background while we’ve all been bingeing on multitasking. Police warn that tabnabbing is back and even more dangerous, as people are living their lives more online.

What is it, then? Well, imagine you get a message or email with a link—maybe it looks interesting, maybe it’s just clickbait. After clicking the link, you don’t notice anything dramatic. You continue with your day. Hidden in the background that link may have allowed a cybercriminal access to one of your tabs.

Imagine you were using your online banking, or email in a different tab. The next time you go back, you may see what appears to be an entirely normal login screen. But here’s the kicker—it’s fake. You’re sending your password to a scammer if you type it in.

Who checks each tab every time? Most of us rely on what we see.

How to avoid being scammed by tabnabbing

You’re not the only one who is wondering how to avoid such a trick. Cyber experts say the first line of defence is simply being a little bit more suspicious—especially if a tab that was already open suddenly wants your password again.

What can you do to keep up with the competition?

• Use two-factor authentication You can use this code anywhere you want (yes, it is a hassle, but works!) Even if your password is stolen, the person will not be able to access your account without this extra code.
• Don’t recycle your passwords. Hackers only need to be lucky once if you use the exact same password everywhere.
• Keep tabs open. If something looks off, even slightly—maybe the logo looks fuzzy or the web address is a bit weird—close that tab and log in afresh from the homepage.
• Keep your curiosity! You can find the most recent tips on social media by checking out the National Cyber Security Centre. These scams are constantly updated.

The quiet old scam is back in the digital age

The first tabnabbing was observed over a ten-year period. With everyone now working, socialising, and shopping online, tabnabbing is gaining momentum. Tech journalist Sefi García says it’s just a smarter version of classic phishing. Scammers don’t try to trick you by sending a dubious email. Instead, they let you click and wait until your attention is distracted.

Security experts advise that you should layer your defenses. Eusebio Neva from Check Point says that even if it happens that you accidentally give out your password, the two-factor verification will stop the bad guy at the door. And never—never!—reuse the same password on important sites. You don’t want your master key to digital life to be leaked if one is compromised.

Next time you find yourself with 15 tabs open, take a moment to scan them before typing anything important. Few seconds of caution could save you from a great deal of frustration.