What is Phishing?

Phishing is a type of cyberattack where criminals impersonate a legitimate organization or person to trick victims into revealing sensitive information. This is usually done through deceptive emails, text messages (called "smishing"), or instant messages. The goal is to steal credentials like usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, or bank account details.

A phishing message typically creates a sense of urgency or fear, prompting the victim to act quickly without thinking. For example, it might claim your account has been compromised, your payment has been declined, or you've won a prize.

Common Types of Phishing Attacks

• Email Phishing: The most common form. An email pretending to be from your bank, a popular online service (like Netflix or Amazon), or even your employer asks you to click a link to resolve an issue.
• Spear Phishing: A more targeted attack. The criminal researches the victim and crafts a personalized message. It might reference a real project you're working on or a recent event you attended to appear more credible.
• Smishing (SMS Phishing): Uses text messages to deliver the bait. These often contain links to fake websites or prompts to call a fraudulent phone number. A common example is a fake package delivery notification.
• Vishing (Voice Phishing): The scammer calls you, often using technology to spoof the caller ID to look like it's coming from a legitimate source, like your bank's fraud department.

How to Recognize a Phishing Attempt: 7 Signs

1. Sense of Urgency or Threats: Messages that threaten to close your account, charge you a fee, or warn of dire consequences if you don't act immediately are classic phishing tactics. Legitimate companies rarely use such high-pressure language.
2. Suspicious Sender Address: Carefully examine the sender's email address. Scammers often use addresses that are slight misspellings of legitimate ones (e.g., service@paypa1.com instead of service@paypal.com). Look for mismatched names or unusual domains.
3. Generic Greetings: Be wary of emails that use vague greetings like "Dear Valued Customer" or "Dear Account Holder." Most legitimate companies will address you by your name.
4. Links to Fake Websites: Hover your mouse over any link before you click it. The actual destination URL will appear in the bottom corner of your browser window. If the link address looks different from the text, or if it leads to a strange or misspelled domain, do not click it.
5. Unexpected Attachments: Be extremely cautious of emails with unexpected attachments, even if they seem to be from someone you know. These attachments can contain malware, such as ransomware or spyware.
6. Poor Grammar and Spelling: While not always the case, many phishing emails are riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. Professional organizations typically proofread their communications carefully.
7. Requests for Sensitive Information: A legitimate company will never ask you to provide your password, full credit card number, or Social Security number via email.

How to Protect Yourself from Phishing

• Think Before You Click: The single most important rule. If an email or text seems suspicious, take a moment to analyze it for the red flags listed above.
• Go Directly to the Source: If you receive a message claiming to be from your bank or another service, do not click the link in the message. Instead, open your browser and manually type the website's address, or use your own saved bookmark or the official app.
• Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enable MFA (also known as 2FA) on all your important accounts (email, banking, social media). This means that even if a scammer steals your password, they won't be able to log in without the second verification factor (like a code sent to your phone).
• Keep Software Updated: Keep your browser, operating system, and antivirus software up to date. Updates often include patches for security vulnerabilities that phishers try to exploit.
• Report Phishing Attempts: If you receive a phishing email, report it. Most email clients (like Gmail and Outlook) have a "Report Phishing" button. This helps protect others. You can also report it to organizations like the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG).

Conclusion

Phishing is a constant threat, but by being vigilant and skeptical, you can significantly reduce your risk. Always question messages that create urgency or ask for sensitive data, and verify their legitimacy by contacting the organization through official channels.