Phishing

A fraudulent practice where attackers impersonate trustworthy entities through emails, messages, or websites to trick people into revealing sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, or personal data. Phishing attacks often create urgency, fear, or curiosity to bypass rational thinking. Common tactics include fake security alerts, prize notifications, urgent requests from apparent colleagues, or shipping notifications. Sophisticated phishing is increasingly difficult to detect, using legitimate-looking domains, professional design, and personalised information. AI has both empowered phishing (enabling highly personalised, convincing attacks at scale) and improved detection (identifying suspicious patterns). Protection requires skepticism, verification, and security awareness.

Why it matters

Phishing attacks can devastate businesses through stolen credentials, financial fraud, or data breaches. Understanding common tactics, implementing security practices, and maintaining skepticism protects both your business and customers from significant losses.