what is phishing in computer

Phishing is a type of cybercrime in which attackers attempt to steal personal or financial account information by sending deceptive electronic messages that trick unsuspecting victims. The attackers masquerade as reputable entities or individuals in emails, text messages, phone calls, or other forms of communication to trick users into revealing sensitive information. The messages may contain malicious links or attachments that can extract login credentials, account numbers, and other personal information from victims. Phishing messages are usually provocative and attempt to make the user irritated, curious, or amused to get them to open the email, click the link, and silently infect their computer. Once the computer is infected, the malicious spyware can lurk there until it finds and sends the victims financial and personal information to the attacker. Phishing is one of the oldest forms of cyber attacks, dating back to the 1990s.