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Phishing FAQ

Why is phishing dangerous?

Phishing is a type of cyberattack. Scammers act like trusted companies, such as banks or retailers. They try to trick you into giving them your personal or financial information.

Dangerous because it exploits human trust rather than technical flaws. Once a victim clicks a fake link or shares data, attackers can steal money, commit fraud, or even impersonate the victim.

Is phishing illegal?

Yes. Phishing violates multiple laws, including:

  • The U.S. CAN-SPAM Act (prohibiting deceptive email practices)
  • Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)
  • EU GDPR (for misuse of personal data)
  • Report phishing attempts to the FTC or FBI IC3 if you are in the U.S.
  • If you live in another country, reach out to your national cybercrime authority.

How can I spot a phishing email or message?

Look for common warning signs:

  • Sense of urgency or threatening language (“Your account will be suspended!)
  • Misspelled sender addresses or strange domains
  • Generic greetings (“Dear customer”)
  • Suspicious links or attachments
  • Messages that ask for passwords or personal info


Tip: Hover your mouse (or press and hold on mobile) to preview a link before clicking.

What should I do if I clicked a phishing link?

Act fast:

  1. Change your passwords immediately.
  2. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) on all accounts.
  3. Monitor your bank and credit accounts for unusual charges.
  4. Report the phishing attempt to your email provider and the FTC or IC3.
  5. Run a full antivirus scan if you downloaded an attachment.

What are the main types of phishing attacks?

Phishing now happens across multiple channels:

  • Email phishing: The classic fake email scam.
  • Smishing: Text-message (SMS) phishing.
  • Vishing: Voice-call phishing, often using spoofed numbers.
  • Spear phishing: Highly targeted messages aimed at specific people.
  • Clone phishing: Attackers copy a real email, replacing links or attachments with malicious ones.
  • AI-enhanced phishing: Criminals use AI to write realistic messages or deepfake voices. 

What happens to stolen information?

Stolen data fuels a huge underground economy. On dark web marketplaces, criminals sell personal data to the highest bidder:

  • Credit card details: average $17.36 per card
  • Online banking logins: $45-$500 depending on balance
  • Full identity “packages”: name, address, SSN, and logins for up to $100+

How can I protect my business from phishing?

For organizations:

  • Train employees regularly with phishing simulations.
  • Require MFA for all accounts.
  • Use verified payment workflows to avoid business email compromise.
  • Set up DMARC, SPF, and DKIM email security policies.
  • Offer employees privacy tools like MySudo to reduce data exposure online.

Does AI make phishing worse?

Yes. Attackers now use AI tools to create realistic emails, deepfake audio, and fake video calls. They do this to impersonate trusted contacts.

However, defense organizations also use AI. Machine learning filters can detect suspicious language patterns and block fake websites faster.

What should I teach my employees or family?

  1. Stop and think before clicking links or attachments.
  2. Verify requests for money or sensitive info through another channel.
  3. Use privacy tools like MySudo for signups and online forms.
  4. Enable 2FA and use strong passwords.
  5. Report suspicious messages right away–don’t ignore them.

If phishing is so common, is there any hope?

Absolutely. Phishing relies on speed and human error–but every extra layer of caution slows attackers down. With privacy protection tools like MySudo, password managers, and basic awareness training, anyone can drastically reduce their risk. Education + privacy = prevention.

Topic

Phishing

Sub Topics

Phishing FAQ

Phishing Glossary

Protect Yourself From Phishing

Talk to sales

Other Resources

What is Whale Pishing?

What is “Vishing” or Phone Phishing?

What is Spear Phishing?