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The internet is a great place — until someone tries to steal your login credentials, credit card details, or even your entire identity. Enter phishing: the cybercriminal’s favorite way to trick you into handing over personal information. If you think you’d never fall for a scam, think again. Phishing attacks are getting so convincing that even tech-savvy people get caught.
So, let’s break it down: what phishing is, how to spot it, and most importantly, how to stop it before it hooks you.
What is phishing?
Phishing happens when scammers try to trick you into revealing sensitive information, like passwords, credit card numbers, or personal details. They usually do this by pretending to be a trusted company, like your bank, a streaming service, or even your boss.
These scams typically come in the form of:
- Texts (smishing) urging you to click a shady URL
- Phone calls (vishing) from someone pretending to be tech support
- Fake websites designed to steal your login details
Real-world phishing scams:
- Netflix billing scam: You get an email saying your Netflix account is about to be suspended due to a payment failure. It includes a legit-looking login page, but the second you enter your details, they go straight to a hacker.
- Bank alert scam: You receive a text claiming there’s suspicious activity on your account, urging you to click a link and confirm your identity. Spoiler: the link doesn’t lead to your bank—it leads to a phishing page that steals your banking credentials.
- Tech support scam: A “Microsoft” or “Apple” rep calls, saying your computer has a virus. They ask you to install software to "fix" it—but it’s actually malware designed to steal your data.
How to spot a phishing scam like a pro
If you want to avoid falling victim to phishing, here’s what to watch for:
- Suspicious email addresses. If an email says it’s from PayPal but comes from support@paypal-security-check.com, it’s fake. Always check the sender’s address.
- Hover before you click. Scammers hide sketchy URLs behind legit-looking text. Hover over links to preview where they really lead.
- Urgency = red flag. Phishing messages often create panic: “Your account will be locked in 24 hours!” Real companies don’t threaten you like that.
- Typos & weird formatting. Big brands proofread their emails. Scammers don’t.
- They ask for personal info. No legit company will ask for your password, credit card details, or two-factor authentication codes via email or text.
How to stay safe (Hint: Use Avast!)
Phishing is getting harder to spot, but you don’t have to do all the work. Avast Free Antivirus and Avast Secure Browser automatically block phishing sites, ranking among the best at stopping scams in independent tests. In fact, Avast caught 94% of phishing attempts in a recent AV-Comparatives test—far better than browsers like Chrome (70%) and Edge (73%).
Extra protection tips:
- Use two-factor authentication (2FA). Even if scammers steal your password, they can’t log in without the second verification step.
- Enable spam filters. Your email provider can catch a lot of phishing attempts before they reach you.
- Report scams. If you get a phishing email or message, don’t click anything. Instead, report it to your email provider or platforms.
Fishing the phish
Scammers are constantly evolving, but you can outsmart them. By staying alert and using strong security tools like Avast, you can keep your data safe and your online experience worry-free. So next time a suspicious email lands in your inbox, don’t panic — just hit delete.
