Phishing uses deceptive messages to steal credentials or deliver malware, while user verification, MFA, and email filtering reduce the risk.
Search across headline titles and summaries.
Background for this topic.
Phishing is deceptive communication—by email, text, phone, or a fake website—that impersonates a trusted person or service to make someone disclose credentials, approve a transaction, reveal sensitive information, or run harmful software. Attackers use it to bypass technical controls by persuading a legitimate user to perform an action, and may target employees, customers, administrators, or suppliers.
Its impact can include account takeover, unauthorized payments, exposure of personal or business data, and access to internal systems. The most effective control for stolen-password phishing is phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication, such as hardware-backed passkeys or security keys, which binds authentication to the legitimate site. Organizations should also filter and authenticate messaging where possible, use password managers, restrict risky actions, train users to verify unusual requests through a separate channel, and provide rapid reporting so suspected credentials or sessions can be revoked.
The Redmond-based firm was the most impersonated brand in the third quarter of 2024, while Alibaba entered the Top 10 for the first time
A surge in phishing emails claiming to be from Starbucks is offering recipients a "free Coffee Lovers Box" in an attempt to steal personal or install malware on devices
Cyber threats surge ahead of the 2024 election, including phishing, ransomware and Darknet activity