phish

Definition

To deceptively acquire sensitive information, such as passwords or financial details, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.

Etymology

Coined in the mid-1990s as a combination of 'fishing' and the 'ph' spelling style common among early hackers, reflecting the metaphor of using 'bait' to catch victims.

In the news

In this article, the term is used to describe the primary risk associated with the fake websites—specifically, whether they were designed to illegally harvest public data.

Singapore shuts down fake websites impersonating government bodies

Borneo Bulletin

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