what is phishing in cyber security

Phishing is a type of cybersecurity attack where malicious actors send fraudulent communications that appear to come from a legitimate and reputable source, usually through email and text messaging. The attackers goal is to steal money, gain access to sensitive data and login information, or to install malware on the victims device. Phishing works by luring a victim with a counterfeit communication that looks legitimate and appears to come from a trusted source. Attackers use seemingly benign emails or text messages to trick unsuspecting users into taking an action such as downloading malware, visiting an infected site, or divulging login credentials in order to steal money or data. Phishing is the most common type of social engineering, which is a general term describing attempts to manipulate or trick computer users. Social engineering attacks, like phishing, are often combined with other threats, such as malware, code injection, and network attacks. Some phishing emails can be identified due to poor copywriting and improper use of fonts, logos, and layouts. However, many cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated at creating authentic-looking messages, and are using professional marketing techniques to test and improve the effectiveness of their phishing campaigns.