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What is phishing?

Phishing is the attempted identity theft on the Internet. As a user of fake e-mails, you are directed to fake websites to collect your usernames and passwords and then make money transfers or orders on your behalf. The word phishing comes from the English word fishing and the initial letters ph instead of f are the abbreviation for password harvesting.

A short film explains it very impressively: https://youtu.be/4xIU1lPJs_4] (German with English subtitles)

The fraudsters don't seem to be strangers any more, but they are persuaded to be someone you already trust. For example, your online payment service; your bank or your friend. The scoundrels try to get you to click on a link with "real" and "official" looking letters. This will land you on another fake site that looks like the real one, from the tax office or your savings bank. If you log in here, the scammers will have your username and password. They can now withdraw money from your account on the real site, order expensive items in your name, or otherwise make your money easier.

Another method is to use the wrong link to download malware to your computer. Then the criminals have control over your computer and can steal your data to abuse it. Or write to your friends on your behalf from your PC and plunge them into financial misery. Or encrypt important files and demand a ransom for your password.

How can I protect myself from phishing?

How can I protect my friends from phishing?

Instructions

Some of these instructions are only available in English. As a member of the CAcert community, you are welcome to translate individual pages or manuals into your own language (not only that mentioned above).


CategorySigning

Phishing (last edited 2019-01-01 21:40:26 by EtienneRuedin)