What is phishing?

Answer 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing

Answer 2

Good question!!!!

Hackers will take a snapshot of an existing website and create the fields that you'd normally enter your personal information on (eg: bank website, yahoo, etc). The page will look identical because it's just a snapshot, however, when you type in the URL (eg: bank website) you're actually redirected to the hacker site and whow, the page looks identical and you cannot recognize the difference so you go ahead and type in all of your personal info into the userID and password fields and you're actually submitting to the hackers so they can rob your account.

There's a file on your hard drive that Windows checks first for the address of a website. If a hacker manipulates this file, then you think your surfing where you intended but it's the same URL name but the different address. Also, the DNS with your service provider could temporarily experience the URL name to be resolved to a different address for as long as it takes them to figure it out.

This is shere nasty and criminal. Your virus scanner; Windows phishing alert have the patterns for ligitemit websites and will alert you if the site address has been altered by checking its database before you connect to the site.

If you're connecting to a site where you login, check that the padlock appears along the address bar. Also, keep a close eye on the URL you are typing because many hackers take advantage by registering sites that users may accidentally type (eg: www.goggle.com, backorffice.com)

Hope this helps even a little.

Answer 3

In computing, phishing is an attempt to criminally and fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. eBay, PayPal and online banks are common targets. Phishing is typically carried out by email or instant messaging,[1] and often directs users to enter details at a website, although phone contact has also been used.[2] Phishing is an example of social engineering techniques used to fool users.[3] Attempts to deal with the growing number of reported phishing incidents include legislation, user training, public awareness, and technical measures.

Answer 4

"phishing" is a method used to get passwords by posing as a trusted contact in an e-mail or instant message that has already been "phished". you can be directed to a website, that may look exactly like the website you are trying to access ( lets say for example "Myspace.com" )) with a different address (( like myspace.com/homepage)) and you would put in your information only for it to be sent to the "phisher" for further "phishing"

Answer 5

Phishing is to disguise something, such as an email, to pretend that it is coming from a bank or such an organization. The email usually entails for you to go to a fake website to enter your personal information, such as social security number.

Then the phisher uses your personal information to steal you life.

The term phishing is a twist on fishing, where you drop a line with bait (the email) and you wait for people to bite your bait (providing personal information).

More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing

Answer 6

Phishing is websites that are designed to take personal information,like on myspace somebody sends you a comment,you click it and it says you are no longer logged in and it requires your email and password.A phishing like would try to duplicate the link for the actual site such as
rnyspace.com/login
Notice there is a R and a N that kind of looks like a M.
Hope I helped!

Answer 7

The act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. The e-mail directs the user to visit a Web site where they are asked to update personal information, such as passwords and credit card, social security, and bank account numbers, that the legitimate organization already has. The Web site, however, is bogus and set up only to steal the user’s information.

Answer 8

Its basically when somebody sends you an email that promises you something, like lottery winning or some prince escaping Africa and needing your help to get his money out of the country, to have you give them your bank account or credit card information, or your passwords and thing like that.

Basically, its sending an email to "phish" for a person's personnal information.

It can also be done by creating a false website that is designed to look like the website you want to access, like you bank's or credit card's website.

Answer 9

It's a criminal attempt to get you to reveal account numbers and passwords.

Example, from a site that looks as if it's from eBay or your bank or broker: "Your _____ account has been suspended!" Click HERE to restore your account.

It's bogus, and this is phishing. As soon as you click, they've got your email and maybe other info; if you foolishly now provide account numbers and passwords, you're likely to soon be poorer, but at least you'll wiser.

Answer 10

When someone sends you an email to obtain your personal information.
Sometimes it will come in the form of a contest win or an account verifacation from a fake bank.

Answer 11

It is $oopr L33T @ngl1ng.... hehheh .... actually it is "fishing" for an internet users login and password. When you login to a place you transmit a packet to a couple of computers (usually) before it reaches the website or whatever you are logging into. A phisher will intercept those packets of information and try to get something useful out of it - hence the L33T speak term (ph)fishing - they are fishing for good information