What is phishing?

Phishing is a cyber attack that uses disguised email as a weapon. The goal is to trick the email recipient into believing that the message is something they want or need — a request from their bank, for instance, or a note from someone in their company — and to click a link or download an attachment. What really distinguishes phishing is the form the message takes: the attackers masquerade as a trusted entity of some kind, often a real or plausibly real person, or a company the victim might do business with. It’s one of the oldest types of cyberattacks, dating back to the 1990s, and it’s still one of the most widespread and pernicious, with phishing messages and techniques becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Answer to all the questions:

– What is the purpose of phishing? The primary purpose of phishing is to collect sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, credit card details, and other personal information by posing as a trustworthy entity in electronic communications.

– How do phishers typically contact their victims? Phishers commonly contact their victims via email, but they also use other methods such as text messages (SMS), social media messages, and sometimes phone calls.

– What are some common indicators of a phishing attempt? Common indicators include the sender’s email address looking suspicious, poor spelling and grammar, requests for personal or financial information, too-good-to-be-true offers, and urgent requests requiring immediate action.

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