Cybersecurity / Glossary

Phishing

Phishing is a message that pretends to come from someone you trust, to trick you into clicking a link, opening a file, or handing over passwords or money.

Phishing usually arrives by email, but the same trick works by text, phone, chat or social media. The message borrows the look of a bank, a delivery company, a colleague or IT support.

Most phishing creates pressure: an account about to be locked, a parcel waiting, a boss who needs something now. Pressure stops you checking the real sender and where the link really goes.

The defence is a habit: slow down, check the sender's real address and the link's domain, and verify through a channel you already trust. If you clicked, report it straight away.