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Phishing: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŽฃ
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phishing

 

[ หˆfษชสƒษชล‹ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

cybersecurity attack

Phishing is a method of trying to gather personal information using deceptive emails and websites. This type of cyber attack often appears to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or a well-known company, which can lead victims to reveal sensitive information such as passwords or credit card numbers. Phishing attacks can take many forms, including email phishing, spear phishing (targeting specific individuals), and vishing (voice phishing). The goal of phishing is to trick individuals into providing confidential data that can be used for fraudulent purposes, including identity theft.

Synonyms

deception, fraud, scamming

Examples of usage

  • Be careful of phishing emails that ask for your bank details.
  • Phishing attacks have become more sophisticated over the years.
  • He fell victim to a phishing scam and lost his savings.
  • The IT department held a seminar on how to recognize phishing.

Translations

Translations of the word "phishing" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น phishing

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคซเคฟเคถเคฟเค‚เค—

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Phishing

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ phishing

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั„ั–ัˆะธะฝะณ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ phishing

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒ•ใ‚ฃใƒƒใ‚ทใƒณใ‚ฐ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท hameรงonnage

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ phishing

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท oltalama

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํ”ผ์‹ฑ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงุญุชูŠุงู„ ุฅู„ูƒุชุฑูˆู†ูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ phishing

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ phishing

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็ฝ‘็ปœ้’“้ฑผ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ phishing

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ veiรฐa

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั„ะธัˆะธะฝะณ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒคแƒ˜แƒจแƒ˜แƒœแƒ’แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ fishing

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ phishing

Etymology

The term 'phishing' originated in the mid-1990s and is a play on the word 'fishing.' Just as fishing involves using bait to catch fish, phishing employs deceptive tactics to lure individuals into revealing personal information. The earliest known instance of phishing can be traced back to the AOL instant messaging era, where cybercriminals would impersonate AOL employees to trick users into providing their account information. The practice rapidly evolved with the rise of the internet and email, leading to various forms of phishing, including email phishing and spear phishing. With the ascent of social media and online banking, phishing tactics have become increasingly sophisticated, incorporating elements of social engineering to create a sense of urgency or legitimacy that further entraps unwary victims. The term 'phishing' has since become a staple in cybersecurity discussions and remains a significant threat in the digital age, as attackers continuously refine their methods to bypass security measures and exploit human psychology.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,684 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.