Phising

Most people using the phising technique are after usernames, passwords and credit card numbers. They parade themselves as prominent, trusting internet entities such as eBay and PayPal. Malicious individuals who use Phishing often target users via email and instant messaging. It will usually encourage a user to enter important details through the email or on a faulty website. The most recent phishing techniques have been aimed at online banks and payment services. Scammers have also emailed users claiming to be associated with the Internal Revenue Service in order to persuade them out of details concerning their taxes. Users of a few social networking sites have been targeted as well. This is mainly because so many personal details are openly listed - details that can be used in attempts at identity theft. In 2006, a malicious worm infected several pages on MySpace and redirected users to fraudulent web sites to thieve login details. It has been reported that over 70 percent of all phishing attempts are made on social networks.