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Phishing is a type of cybercrime where an attacker attempts to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in electronic communications. This is typically done through emails, text messages, or phone calls that appear to come from legitimate sources, such as banks, social media platforms, or well-known companies. The goal is to trick the recipient into clicking on a malicious link, downloading a harmful attachment, or providing personal information directly.

Phishing attacks can be categorized into several types, including:

- Spear phishing: Targeted attacks on specific individuals or organizations.

- Whaling: High-profile targets, such as CEOs or CFOs, are specifically chosen.

- Smishing: Phishing via SMS messages.

- Vishing: Phishing via voice calls.

To protect against phishing, users should be cautious of unsolicited communications, verify the authenticity of the sender, and avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. Organizations can implement security measures such as email filtering, employee training, and multi-factor authentication to mitigate the risk of phishing attacks.