T is for Twishing

I am sure not many of us have heard the word. Unless of course, you are a hard-core technical person.

Trust me, even Google didn’t understand the word at the first go and gave me options like twitching and swishing. The same was the case with MS Doc.

Not much is known about Twishing — a perfect scenario for hackers to get active. This image is not of Twishing but of Phishing, since Twishing is a type of Phishing. Be aware, Be safe. Source. https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/phishing

So, what is Twishing? And why you as an individual and as a business owner should know about it?

What is Twishing?

Twishing is a portmanteau of social networking giant Twitter and Phishing.

We all know Twitter and use it also, but what is Phishing?

Phishing is like the act of fishing. Just like in fishing, fishermen hook their bait to catch the fish, in this case, Phishers or hackers, send their baits through emails. The emails are designed in such a manner that they resemble a reputable source.

In simple words, Phishing is a practice of sending fraudulent communications, which seem to come from some reputable source.

What is the Goal of Phishing?

The goal of all the malware, ransomware, and viruses is to steal sensitive data. The goal of phishing is no different. The hackers send fraudulent communication to steal information like your credit card details, and in some cases to install either malware or even ransomware in your system.

Phishing is one of the most common types of cyberattacks.

Keeping the above information in mind, let’s revisit the term Twishing.

Twishing, in simple words, is a type of phishing attack, which is executed through the social network Twitter.

How Does Twishing Work?

According to the experts at Technopedia, Twishing comes in a form of a brief message from the social networking site Twitter.  The message usually directs the users to a website, which usually sparks the users’ curiosity.

Once you log on to the website, the Twisher gets access to the users’ personal information and even steals the users’ identity.

Yes, the technology is evolving but so are the hackers and cybercriminals. Through my blogs, I wish to create an awareness… Stay safe online and offline