Phishing

• Phishing


  A particular kind of hoax message that aims to persuade users to disclose private information such as their credit card details and PIN
• Example of phishing email

  • Dear Sinadam, Unique Reference No. 569902, year payments we are determined that you are egbe to end of 22972 nine by dicking below, Get Started Now
• Warning signs of phishing email

  • Not clicking on any links, even if you don't enter your account details, as it may confirm your email address is valid and leave you open to further hoaxes and spam
  • Clicking on a link risks your computer being infected with malware that could distribute the same message to all the email addresses including those of your work colleagues, family and friends stored on your computer
• HM Revenue and Customs never asks you to confirm/update/verify your account data by visiting a given link, as you will be taken to a spoof website where your details will be captured for phishing
• Spear-phishing


  A more focused type of phishing that uses clever tactics to target a specific individual or an organisation seeking access to sensitive information, usually conducted for financial gain or to carry out espionage
• Phishing attempt


  • Email claiming to be from your company's IT department, asking you to enter your username and password into a website to reset your email account
• You should be careful when disclosing your username and password, and a phone call to the relevant people in the company should be sufficient to find out whether or not the request is genuine