phishing
/ˈfɪʃɪŋ/
Definition
A form of digital fraud where attackers send deceptive messages, often masquerading as a trustworthy entity, to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information or compromising their accounts.
Etymology
The term is a variant of the word 'fishing,' using a deliberate misspelling to represent the act of 'fishing' for sensitive information. It emerged in the mid-1990s as the internet became more widely used and cybercriminals began casting 'lures' to catch unsuspecting victims.
In the news
In this article, phishing refers to the malicious emails sent to school district staff that led to compromised employee accounts. The school district is implementing training to help staff recognize and prevent these security threats.
Farmington schools adopt 10-year technology plan with focus on security, AI
Read the full article ↗Lewiston Sun Journal