Phishing -
What It Is, How It Works, and How to Stay Safe

Phishing attacks are a major cybersecurity threat designed to trick users into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details, or login credentials. Criminals use this stolen data to commit fraud, drain accounts, or sell access on the dark web. Phishing often serves as a gateway to larger cybersecurity breaches, including ransomware or identity theft, making awareness and protection essential.

Smishing, or phishing by SMS, is effective because text messages feel more personal and urgent. People often check texts quickly and on smaller screens, making it harder to notice suspicious links or spelling errors. Attackers exploit this haste, sending fake delivery alerts, banking updates, or urgent requests that push victims to act without thinking.

Look beyond the subject line. Check the sender’s email address closely for spelling differences, hover over links to see where they really lead, and beware of urgent language demanding immediate action. Legitimate organizations rarely ask for sensitive data via email. Using security tools like Intego antivirus can also help filter emails and automatically flag suspicious messages.

No. While phishing started with email, today it also happens via SMS (smishing), phone calls (vishing), fake websites, and even social media direct messages. Attackers use whichever channel is most likely to reach their target. This makes it important to stay alert across every platform, not just your inbox.

Common indicators include: (1) Urgent or threatening subject lines, (2) Links that don’t match the official website, (3) Poor grammar or spelling errors, and (4) Requests for personal or financial information. Spotting any of these red flags should raise suspicion and prompt you to verify the message through another channel before responding.

Phishing often provides attackers with the keys they need to enter a system. Stolen employee credentials can grant access to email servers, databases, or financial systems. From there, attackers may steal sensitive files, install backdoors, or escalate their privileges. Many of the world’s largest data breaches began with a single phishing email.

HTTPS encrypts communication between your browser and the website, making it harder for attackers to intercept or modify data during transfer. While HTTPS offers a layer of trust, it doesn’t guarantee a site is safe—phishing sites can still appear secure. Using Intego Firewall adds extra protection by monitoring and blocking suspicious connections, helping prevent malicious files or unauthorized access even when browsing HTTPS websites.

Phishing relies on tricking people into giving away information, while hacking focuses on exploiting technical flaws in systems or software. In practice, phishing often enables hacking—attackers use stolen logins to gain deeper access. Both are serious cyber threats, but phishing is especially dangerous because it targets human trust rather than system vulnerabilities.