ICANN Acronyms and Terms
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P
phishing
A form of fraud in which an attacker masquerades as a trusted entity to infect a computer with malware or obtain sensitive information (e.g., login credentials or credit card numbers). Often attackers deceive victims by sending emails (or other types of electronic messages) that appear to be from a trusted person or a reputable entity. Phishing messages often include a link that leads victims to a fraudulent website where they are duped into revealing their login credentials or other private information.