Cybercrime continues to generate huge profits for criminals, and hackers are as sophisticated as ever. If you use the Internet, you are a target of "phishing" – a form of fraudulent solicitation where scammers send emails cleverly disguised to be from trusted brands such as banks, credit card companies, online retailers, or even one of your friends. Getting phished can result in identity theft, financial loss, and/or other legal issues.
The phishing emails entice recipients into taking an action such as clicking on a malicious link, opening an infected attachment, or responding to a scam. Often, the emails contain links to "spoofed" web pages, which may look exactly like those of a legitimate business. Clicking on any of these links or responding to the emails often results in the criminal’s acquisition of personal information such as account numbers, social security numbers, PIN numbers, and/or passwords.
Spear phishing is another type of phishing that targets a specific individual or group of individuals. In this case, the criminal researches their intended target through various avenues, such as social media or public blogs. The information gathered is then used to create a more personal approach which leaves the individual more likely to fall victim.
