Phishing attacks explained simply

Imagine checking your inbox over coffee and noticing an urgent message from your bank. It looks legitimate, with a familiar logo and official-sounding language—except, it’s not from your bank at all. This is the subtle danger of phishing, a cyberattack that targets our trust, curiosity, and even our sense of responsibility.

What Is Phishing?

Phishing is a form of cybercrime where attackers impersonate a trusted entity to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information. This can include passwords, credit card numbers, or even access to corporate networks. The term itself comes from “fishing,” as attackers dangle a tempting “bait” in the hope that someone will bite.

Phishing is not merely about sending spam. It’s about social engineering—manipulating human psychology to bypass technological defenses. Attackers know that even the most robust security systems have a weak link: people. With carefully crafted emails, websites, or even phone calls, they exploit that link.

The Many Faces of Phishing

Phishing attacks take several forms, each with its own tactics and targets. The most common include:

• Email phishing: The classic approach, where attackers send emails posing as banks, employers, or trusted services, urging recipients to click malicious links or attachments.
• Spear phishing: More targeted, these emails are tailored to a specific individual or organization, often using personal information to appear credible.
• Smishing (SMS phishing): Attackers use text messages with fake alerts or links, hoping recipients will respond or click through on mobile devices.
• Vishing (voice phishing): Scammers call victims, often using spoofed numbers, and pose as technical support or bank representatives to extract sensitive data.
• Clone phishing: An attacker copies a legitimate email, changes a link or attachment to something malicious, and resends it from what appears to be a trusted address.

These methods evolve rapidly, adapting to new technology and the ways we communicate. What they all share is a reliance on human reaction—whether it’s urgency, fear, or simple curiosity.

How Does Phishing Work?

The mechanics of phishing are deceptively simple. Most attacks follow a similar pattern:

1. Preparation: The attacker researches their target. For mass attacks, this might be as simple as gathering public email addresses. For more targeted attacks, they may use social media, company websites, or even data leaks to personalize their approach.
2. Bait: The attacker crafts a message designed to appear legitimate. This could be a fake invoice, a security alert, or even a message from a colleague. The message often contains a link to a fraudulent website or a malicious attachment.
3. Hook: The recipient, convinced of the message’s authenticity, clicks the link or downloads the file. The fake website may prompt them to enter login information, which is immediately transmitted to the attacker. Alternatively, the attachment may install malware that silently collects data or gives remote access to the attacker.
4. Catch: With the stolen information, the attacker can access accounts, transfer money, or launch further attacks within a company network.

Phishing is not about hacking computers—it’s about hacking people.

Why Phishing Works

One reason phishing persists is that it works. Attackers exploit basic human tendencies, such as:

• Trust in authority: We are conditioned to respond to requests from banks, employers, or government agencies.
• Sensitivity to urgency: Phishing messages often convey a sense of emergency—your account is compromised, a package is undelivered, a deadline must be met.
• Desire to help: Some phishing campaigns impersonate colleagues in need, counting on our willingness to assist.
• Curiosity: Unexpected attachments (“see the invoice,” “your salary review,” “company announcement”) can be hard to resist.

Attackers also take advantage of technology’s complexity. With mobile devices, tiny screens and quick interactions make it easier to overlook warning signs. Newer forms of phishing even use AI to generate convincing messages, sometimes in multiple languages or tailored to specific interests.

Recognizing Phishing Attempts

Detecting phishing is a skill that improves with awareness and practice. Here are key signs to watch for:

1. Suspicious Sender Addresses

Phishing emails often come from addresses that are almost—but not quite—correct. For example, an attacker might use support@yourb4nk.com instead of support@yourbank.com. Always check the sender’s address carefully, especially if the message is unexpected.

2. Generic Greetings and Language

Mass phishing campaigns often use generic salutations like “Dear Customer.” Spear phishing may use your real name, but the tone or phrasing might feel slightly off.

3. Urgent or Threatening Language

Be wary of messages that demand immediate action or threaten consequences. “Your account will be closed unless you verify now!” is a classic red flag. Legitimate organizations rarely ask for sensitive information this way.

4. Unusual Links or Attachments

Hover over any links before clicking. Does the URL match the official website? Are there odd spellings or extra characters? Attachments from unknown sources should never be opened without verification.

5. Requests for Sensitive Information

Be suspicious of any unsolicited message asking for passwords, social security numbers, or payment details. Even if it appears to come from someone you know, confirm through another channel before responding.

When in doubt, slow down. Take a moment to think before clicking or responding. Phishing works best when we act reflexively.

How to Avoid Falling Victim

While technology offers some protection, the most important defense against phishing is education and vigilance. Here’s how you can protect yourself and your organization:

1. Foster a Culture of Skepticism

Encourage yourself and those around you to question unexpected messages, even from familiar sources. It’s better to double-check than to assume.

2. Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Even if an attacker steals your password, MFA makes it much harder for them to gain access. Many services now offer options like SMS codes or app-based authentication.

3. Keep Software Updated

Phishing attacks sometimes exploit vulnerabilities in browsers or plugins. Regular updates close these security gaps.

4. Train Regularly and Inclusively

Cybersecurity awareness training should be ongoing and accessible to everyone, including neurodivergent team members. Clear, visual examples and inclusive language make it easier for all learners to understand and remember phishing red flags.

5. Use Technology Wisely

Email filters, anti-malware tools, and browser protections can block many phishing attempts before they reach you. Still, these are not foolproof; human awareness remains essential.

Phishing and Diversity: Inclusive Strategies for Safety

It’s important to recognize that not everyone experiences technology the same way. For women in technology and neurodivergent individuals, additional challenges may arise:

• Imposter syndrome can increase susceptibility to authority-based phishing, as individuals may feel pressured to comply with requests from “higher-ups.”
• Processing differences in neurodivergent users might make it harder to spot subtle linguistic cues or inconsistencies in phishing messages.
• Multitasking environments may leave anyone—especially those already balancing work, learning, or caregiving—more vulnerable to rushed decisions.

Organizations can help by creating inclusive security training that respects diverse learning styles. Visual aids, checklists, and simulation exercises can all improve retention. It’s also vital to foster a supportive environment where asking questions or reporting suspicious messages is encouraged and never penalized.

Security is a shared responsibility. By empowering everyone—including those who might feel marginalized or overwhelmed—we build safer workplaces and communities.

The Evolving Landscape of Phishing

Phishing is constantly changing. Attackers now use deepfake audio and AI-generated messages to increase their chances of success. Social media platforms have also become fertile ground for attacks, with direct messages posing as friends or recruiters.

At the same time, defenders are adopting AI to spot suspicious patterns and block threats in real time. Still, no technology can fully replace critical thinking and informed caution.

Phishing in the Context of Remote Work

The rise in remote work has created new opportunities for attackers. Distributed teams often rely on digital communication, making it easier for phishing to slip through. Trust, collaboration, and psychological safety are essential—not just for productivity, but for security.

Encourage your team to use secure channels, verify requests for sensitive actions, and support each other in learning about new threats. A quick message to confirm a request may save hours—or even years—of trouble.

Final Thoughts: Building a Safer Digital World Together

Phishing is a challenge that touches everyone, regardless of their role, experience, or background. By understanding how these attacks work and staying alert to their signs, we can all play a part in keeping ourselves and our communities safe.

Be curious, be kind, and trust your instincts. In the ever-evolving world of technology, our greatest asset is not just our knowledge, but our willingness to learn and help each other grow. With patience and practice, anyone can become resilient against phishing—and help others do the same.