Phishing Attacks and Prevention

Phishing attacks have been the number one leading cause of identity theft and financial theft since 1990. The internet is one of the leading places where individuals’ identity is stolen. Many businesses and government agencies have been at risk of cyber phishing attacks from foreign countries. Attacks on Several U.S. federal government agencies have been hit in a global cyberattack by Russian cybercriminals that exploit a vulnerability in widely used software, according to a top us cybersecurity agency (Lyngaas, Government hit cyber-attacks, 2023). Phishing attacks are cybercrimes where one or many individuals steal sensitive information like passwords, credit card information, and even social security numbers. There are many different types of phishing attacks such as spear phishing, email phishing, smishing, and whaling. Spear phishing is a type of phishing campaign that targets a specific person or group and often includes information known to be of interest to the target. They attempt to acquire sensitive information or access to a computer system by sending counterfeit messages that seem to be legit. (uni.gov) Phishing attacks have ruined many businesses and families. They exploit the very vulnerability that makes human communication seamless and trustworthy. These attacks leverage psychological manipulation, preying on emotions such as fear, urgency, or curiosity. In my Research paper, I will discuss different types of phishing attacks and how we can prevent them or take proper precautions to avoid falling victim to these attacks.