A cybercrime technique that uses fraudulent emails or websites to trick people into revealing sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers.
A variant spelling of 'fishing' that emerged in the 1990s hacker community, with the 'ph' reflecting the influence of 'phreaking' (phone hacking). The metaphor likens cybercriminals to anglers who use bait to catch unsuspecting victims, with the altered spelling becoming standard in cybersecurity contexts.
The term 'phishing' was coined by AOL hackers in the mid-1990s who would 'fish' for passwords and financial data from users. The creative spelling with 'ph' was inspired by 'phone phreaking' culture, where hackers manipulated telephone systems - a nod to the underground community's tradition of playful misspellings.
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