Phish·ing \ˈfi-shiŋ\ noun
The act of deceiving an online user in order to gain private information by posing as a legitimate company.
Since the COVID pandemic began in 2020, phishing attacks and scams have thrived. Today, phishing attacks account for more than 80% of reported security incidents.
Do you know how to recognize phishing emails?
Phishing emails commonly…
- Create a sense of urgency
Attackers want to make you panic so that you are more likely to make a mistake. Example: Subject of an email is “Urgent: Your Accounts Needs Updating.” - Ask for personal info
An attacker’s goal is to get your personal information like passwords, tax ID numbers, and bank account information. - Use misleading URLs
Attackers will disguise hyperlinks to their malicious sites that look very close to the links for trusted sites and services.
Before you click on a link, hover your cursor over the link to see where it goes. If it looks odd, do not click on it! - Have poor spelling and grammar
Many phishing attempts are poorly written and have numerous misspellings.
![An image on an email showing examples of Creating Urgency, asking for personal info, misleading links, and bad spelling grammar.](https://itsnews.uncg.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/phishing-email-example-v4-435x500.png)
Think before you click on any suspicious emails, links, or attachments and make sure to report any suspicious emails if you can.
Learn more about protecting yourself against phishing attacks.