Phishing is a type of cyber attack where attackers attempt to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials, credit card numbers, or other personal details. The attackers do this by pretending to be a trustworthy entity, such as a reputable company, government agency, or financial institution. They use various methods to lure victims into providing their information, which can then be used for fraudulent purposes.
Phishing attacks can take several forms, including:
Phishing attacks can take several forms, including:
- Phishing Emails: Attackers send deceptive emails that appear to be from a legitimate source, asking recipients to click on a link or open an attachment. These links or attachments often lead to fake websites designed to steal login information or other sensitive data.
- Spear Phishing: Similar to phishing emails, but more targeted, spear phishing attacks focus on specific individuals or organizations. Attackers personalize the messages to make them appear more convincing, increasing the likelihood of success.
- Smishing: Phishing attacks conducted via SMS or text messages. The attackers send deceptive text messages containing links or instructions to respond with sensitive information.
- Vishing: Phishing attacks conducted over voice calls. Attackers may impersonate legitimate callers, such as customer service representatives, to trick victims into revealing their information.
- Pharming: Manipulating the DNS (Domain Name System) settings or using malicious code to redirect users to fake websites, even when they enter the correct website URL.
- Social Media Phishing: Using fake social media profiles or messages to deceive users into clicking on malicious links or revealing personal information.
