In all probability, you would have received a mail at some time or the other, asking you to visit a familiar website with whom you are doing regular business and update your personal information. When you open this website, you will be asked to verify or update your passwords, credit card numbers, social security number, or even your bank account number. If you’re not familiar with the ways of the Internet, you will head out there and update your information as you have been directed to, without smelling a rat.
Well, if you have followed such an email and have updated your personal/financial information on a website that seems similar to a website with whom you regularly do business, then, my friend, you have been “phished”! Your personal and financial information is now the property of hackers/phishers who will misuse it as soon as possible, causing you grave financial distress, loss of face and a bad credit rating.
Phishing (which is pronounced as fishing) refers to email scams that are aimed at identity theft. You are sent an email on the lines of emails sent to you from banks, credit card companies, etc. These “phishing” emails...