| Phishing is a relatively new term, used to describe the | | | | you there through his fake bank email. You, under |
| act of trying to get private information from a | | | | the impression that you are responding to your bank, |
| person. This is usually done through the use of | | | | type in your account numbers and password - and |
| computers, but sometimes via telephone. The | | | | bang! The phisher has your details. He can now log on |
| information gained is then used to commit crimes - | | | | and empty your bank account. |
| such as emptying your bank account. | | | | Another trick is where the phishers sends an email |
| Why the term "phishing?" The word "phishing" is really | | | | which instructs the receiver to call a toll-free number |
| a play on words. In English, the letters "PH" are | | | | in order to sort out something with his account (such |
| pronounced the same as the letter "F." So "phishing" | | | | as a billing or a payment). This toll-free number will be |
| is pronounced in the same was as "fishing." One of | | | | set up to sound just like the service line of one's |
| the dictionary definitions of fishing is "to seek | | | | bank, with an automated voice response directing |
| something by roundabout means." Since phishing is an | | | | one to dial in one's account number and pin code. |
| action where one tries to get your personal | | | | Once the phishers has these numbers, he can of |
| information through the use of covert tricks and | | | | course use them to get into your account and |
| deceit, it appropriately describes this criminal activity. | | | | transfer all of your money somewhere else. |
| How is Phishing Done? | | | | As you can see, quite some work goes into |
| Phishing is accomplished through the use of tricks or | | | | deceiving people in order to get their personal details. |
| schemes to gain your trust so that you will give out | | | | One is not dealing with a practical joke, when faced |
| your personal information. Your natural response to | | | | with phishing. |
| this statement is, of course, "yeah but I am not so | | | | While the above is just one example, and there are |
| easily fooled." And of course you aren't. This is why | | | | many, there are many more ways a in which a |
| phishers use a technique called "social engineering". | | | | phisher goes about gaining personal information, credit |
| "Social engineering" is a euphemism (a nice way of | | | | card numbers, bank accounts, Paypal account |
| saying something) to refer to the use of confidence | | | | numbers, etc. The key strategy he or she uses is to |
| tricks or the dishonest manipulation of people. The | | | | pretend to be a person or a company that you trust, |
| manipulator uses all sorts of tricks in order to gain | | | | and to use lies which trick you into giving out |
| your trust, or to appear to be someone else who | | | | information. |
| you already trust. | | | | How Does One Deal With Phishing? |
| For example, you trust your bank, right? Otherwise | | | | Unfortunately, there is no anti-phishing program that |
| you would not use it to take care of your money. | | | | works like a antivirus program or Internet security |
| Well, if you get an email from your bank to verify | | | | program, although an Internet security program will |
| your account information, or a request for you to log | | | | definitely make it harder for a phisher to hack into |
| in order to verify the payment of a bill, you would | | | | your computer directly and steal personal information. |
| most likely answer them. | | | | The only real protection against phishing is your own |
| Good, this is exactly what a phisher relies on. He will | | | | alertness on the subject. If you are aware that it |
| send you a fake email that looks identical to an email | | | | exists and occurs, you will be more likely to spot it, if |
| from your bank. He might even set up a fake web | | | | and when it occurs. |
| page that looks like your bank's web page, and send | | | | |