Phishing is one of the oldest tricks in the cybercriminal playbook — and still one of the most effective. Whether it comes by email, SMS, social media, or even phone calls, phishing is designed to trick you into revealing sensitive information or clicking something dangerous.
Why It Matters?
Phishing is responsible for over 90% of successful cyberattacks worldwide. It’s how many ransomware infections, identity theft cases, and financial frauds begin. It doesn’t matter how strong your password is or how good your antivirus software might be — if you click the wrong link or reply to the wrong message, your security is at risk.
Common Types of Phishing
📧 Email Phishing
The most common form — fake emails that look like they’re from your bank, employer, or services like PayPal or Netflix.
Typical signs:
- Urgent or threatening language (“Your account will be closed!”)
- Requests for passwords, credit card info, or login links
- Slight misspellings in addresses or domain names
📱 Smishing (SMS Phishing)
Text messages claiming delivery issues, urgent payments, or tax refunds.
Examples:
- “Your package is on hold. Please confirm delivery details here: [link]”
- “You’ve been selected for a government grant. Claim now.”
📞 Vishing (Voice Phishing)
Phone calls impersonating tech support, banks, or even the police. Often push you to give access to your device or sensitive info.
💬 Social Media & Messaging App Phishing
Fake profiles or hacked friends sending dangerous links via Facebook, WhatsApp, or Instagram DMs.
How to Spot a Phishing Attempt
✅ Check the sender’s address — is it official or suspiciously similar?
✅ Hover over links — do they go where they claim to?
✅ Look for poor grammar and weird formatting
✅ Don’t trust urgent requests or threats — cybercriminals rely on panic
✅ Verify independently — contact the company directly, not via the message you received
What to Do If You Suspect Phishing
Change passwords immediately if you entered credentials
Don’t click any links or attachments
Do not reply to the message
Report the message:
UK: Forward phishing emails to [email protected]
US: [email protected] for tax-related phishing
Many services (Google, Microsoft, Meta) have built-in “Report Phishing” buttons
Delete the message after reporting
Free Tools and Quizzes to Practice
📩 VirusTotal – Scan links and attachments for threats
🧠 Google Phishing Quiz – Interactive phishing training
🛡️ KnowBe4 Free Tools – Simulated phishing tests
Further Reading and Resources
SANS OUCH! Newsletter – Phishing Awareness