Cybersecurity glossary
What is phishing?
Also known as: spear phishing
Definition
Phishing is a fraudulent message, usually email, that impersonates a trusted sender to trick people into revealing credentials, paying money or running malware.
Why it matters
Spear phishing targets specific people using personal details. Variants include smishing (SMS), vishing (voice) and QR code phishing. Verification habits, MFA and reporting are the main defenses.
Common questions about phishing
- How can I tell if an email is a phishing attempt?
- Are QR codes safe to scan?
- What should you do after clicking a phishing link?
- What should I do if I clicked a phishing link?
- Where do I report a phishing email or scam text?
- What is smishing and how is it different from phishing?
- What is multi-factor authentication and do I need it?
- What is a passkey and is it better than a password?
See also
Sources
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