Phishing 101
Email or phone? Phishing is everywhere! Are you ready to spot it?
Please note: The images on this page are Artificial intelligence (AI) generated art.
What is Phishing?
It’s how scammers and cybercriminals try to trick you into revealing your (or others’) personal or financial data, access to accounts and systems. Their main goal is usually to make a profit, either at your expense or someone else's.
How will attackers try and phish me?
Any way they can! If it can be used to reach you, an attacker will try it. Email is still the most common method, but phishing attacks also take the form of instant messages, social media or forum posts, popup windows, video games, malicious advertisements, online quizzes, sponsored search results, and more! Phone calls, QR codes, even video calls using AI are used as part of successful phishing attacks. Some scammers go old-school and initiate their phish with in-person contact at events.
How do they make a profit?
By selling the personal data and intellectual property they harvest, tricking you into direct payments, stealing and using your credit card/banking information, collecting ransoms, or using blackmail.