Phishing, Smishing, Vishing

-

 

🔐 PHISHING, SMISHING & VISHING

These are types of Social Engineering Attacks used to steal sensitive information like passwords, OTPs, banking details, and personal data.

1️⃣ PHISHING

Definition

Phishing is a cyber attack where attackers send fake emails or messages pretending to be a trusted organization to steal sensitive information.

The word “Phishing” comes from the word “Fishing” — attackers “fish” for information.

How Phishing Works

  1. Attacker sends fake email.

  2. Email looks like it is from a bank, company, or government.

  3. Victim clicks the link.

  4. Fake website opens.

  5. Victim enters login details.

  6. Information is stolen.

Common Targets

  • Bank accounts

  • Email accounts

  • Social media accounts

  • Online shopping accounts

Types of Phishing

• Email Phishing

Fake email pretending to be from trusted organization.

• Spear Phishing

Targeted phishing attack on specific person or company.

• Clone Phishing

Copy of a real email but with malicious link.

• Whaling

Phishing attack targeting high-level executives.

Signs of Phishing Email

  • Urgent message (“Account will be blocked”)

  • Grammar mistakes

  • Unknown sender address

  • Suspicious links

  • Asking for password or OTP

Prevention

  • Do not click unknown links

  • Verify sender email address

  • Enable two-factor authentication

  • Use spam filter

2️⃣ SMISHING

Definition

Smishing (SMS Phishing) is a phishing attack conducted through SMS (text messages).

“Smishing” = SMS + Phishing

How Smishing Works

  1. Victim receives SMS.

  2. Message contains urgent or attractive offer.

  3. Message includes malicious link.

  4. Victim clicks link.

  5. Fake website collects information.

Common Examples

  • “Your bank account is blocked. Click here.”

  • “You won ₹50,000 lottery.”

  • “Update KYC immediately.”

  • Fake courier delivery message

Dangers of Smishing

  • Banking fraud

  • Identity theft

  • Malware installation

Prevention

  • Do not click unknown SMS links

  • Verify message with official website

  • Block suspicious numbers

  • Report to telecom provider

3️⃣ VISHING

Definition

Vishing (Voice Phishing) is a fraud attack where attackers use phone calls to trick victims into revealing sensitive information.

“Vishing” = Voice + Phishing

How Vishing Works

  1. Attacker calls victim.

  2. Pretends to be bank officer, police, or company staff.

  3. Creates urgency or fear.

  4. Asks for OTP, PIN, or account details.

  5. Uses information for fraud.

Common Vishing Scams

  • Fake bank verification call

  • Fake income tax department call

  • Fake police threat call

  • Fake customer care support

Techniques Used in Vishing

  • Caller ID spoofing

  • Fear tactics

  • Urgent action demand

  • Authority pressure

Prevention

  • Never share OTP or PIN on call

  • Banks never ask for password

  • Disconnect suspicious calls

  • Verify by calling official number

🔥 Comparison Table

FeaturePhishingSmishingVishing
MediumEmailSMSPhone Call
Communication TypeWrittenText MessageVoice
Link IncludedYesYesSometimes
Common TargetLogin credentialsBanking detailsOTP & PIN
Urgency UsedYesYesYes

🎯 Key Differences

  • Phishing uses email.

  • Smishing uses SMS.

  • Vishing uses phone calls.

All three aim to steal confidential information.

🛡 General Protection Tips

  • Think before clicking

  • Verify before trusting

  • Never share OTP

  • Use strong passwords

  • Enable two-factor authentication

  • Keep phone and system updated

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Introduction to Computer

-
Image
Computers are electronic devices that are designed to process, store, and retrieve data. They are used for a wide variety of purposes, from personal computing to complex scientific simulations and industrial automation. A computer consists of various hardware components, including a central processing unit (CPU), memory, storage devices, input/output (I/O) devices such as keyboards, mice, and displays, and various other peripherals. Computers communicate with each other over networks, which are interconnected groups of computers that share resources and information. The internet is a global network that connects millions of computers around the world and enables communication and information sharing on an unprecedented scale. The field of computer science is concerned with the study of computers and computational systems, including their design, development, and application. It encompasses many subfields, including artificial intelligence, computer graphics, databases, programming lang...
Read more

History of Computer

-
Image
  History of Computer Topics  Definition of computer  Earliest computer  Computer History  Computer Generations Definition of Computer  Computer is a programmable machine.  Computer is a machine that manipulates data according to a list of instructions.  Computer is any device which aids humans in performing various kinds of computations or calculations.  Definition of Computer Three principles characteristic of computer:  It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well-defined manner.  It can execute a pre-recorded list of instructions.  It can quickly store and retrieve large amounts of data.  Earliest Computer  Originally calculations were computed by humans, whose job title was computers.  These human computers were typically engaged in the calculation of a mathematical expression.  The calculations of this period were specialized and expensive, requiring years of training in mathematics.  T...
Read more

Computer Generation

-
Image
 There are five generations of computer:  First generation– 1946 - 1958  Second generation– 1959 - 1964  Third generation– 1965 - 1970  Fourth generation– 1971 - today  Fifth generation– Today to future The First Generation   The first computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, and were often enormous, taking up entire rooms.  They were very expensive to operate and in addition to using a great deal of electricity, generated a lot of heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions. The Second Generation   Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second generation of computers.  One transistor replaced the equivalent of 40 vacuum tubes.    Allowing computers to become smaller, faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable.  Still generated a great deal of heat that can damage the computer. The Third Generation  The development of the integrated circuit was ...
Read more