What’s a phishing attack?

Phishing is a type of social engineering tactic intended to steal personal information from unsuspecting people. It generally occurs in the form of emails or websites appearing to come from reputable companies or organizations, such as credit card companies or charities. The messages often indicate that there is a problem and will request for individuals to provide private information, such as their account numbers. If users provide this information, attackers can use it to access their accounts. Phishing ploys can also be timed to coincide with current events or certain holidays.