Phishing is a type of fraud that involves sending fake emails or messages in order to steal your personal information, such as a password, social security number, or credit card number.
Here's how it works:
The attacker pretends to be a legitimate source, like a bank, the government, or a coworker.
They tell you that urgent action is needed, such as claiming a gift card, resetting your password, or handling an unpaid invoice.
Then, they prompt you to download an attachment, log into an account, or input personal info. This is what causes your information to be stolen!
Watch this short video to learn more.
Source: IDG TECHtalk
The Anti-Phishing Working Group detected 316,747 phishing attacks in December 2021 alone.
Phishing was the most common type of cyber crime reported to the U.S. Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2020.
A 2021 study by Barracuda found that 3% of employees will click on a link in a malicious email, putting the entire organization at risk.
Image source: Stickers on Flaticon
Attackers are constantly coming up with new strategies to trick their victims. Click through this slideshow to explore real-life examples of phishing attacks.