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Phishing is a deceptive message designed to make you click, open a file, send money, or reveal information by pretending to come from someone you trust. It can arrive by email, text, or another channel, and it is not the same as ordinary spam. If a message asks you to act urgently, verify the request through a website or contact method you find independently—not through the message itself.
What phishing means
Phishing is a form of social engineering: a scammer poses as a person or organization you may trust and tries to steer you into an unsafe action. That could mean entering a password, sharing personal or financial details, paying a bill, clicking a link, or opening an attachment. The consequences can include stolen account access, identity theft, or harmful software on a device. CISA describes phishing scams as “online messages designed to look like they’re from a trusted source.” CISA phishing tip sheet
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Spam is unsolicited bulk messaging; phishing is defined by its deceptive purpose. A phishing message might land in your inbox, but it can also arrive by text or another channel. Moving it out of the junk folder does not make it safe, and a polished message is not proof that it is genuine.
How to recognize a possible phishing message
Look at the request and verify it, rather than judging only by spelling, logos, or how familiar the sender looks. Warning signs include an unexpected problem, pressure to act immediately, a request for sensitive information or payment, or a link or attachment you were not expecting. CISA notes that poor spelling and grammar can occur, but are a less common warning sign than people often assume.
#1 Best Overall
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key C NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
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- Account warning: A message says your account is locked or at risk and directs you to sign in through its link.
- Payment request: A supposed service provider asks you to update payment details or settle an unexpected charge.
- Delivery notice: A text claims a parcel is delayed and asks you to follow a link to fix the problem.
- Invoice attachment: An unexpected invoice asks you to open a file or enable a feature to view it.
- Urgent request from someone you know: A message appearing to come from a friend, family member, or colleague asks for money or information. Familiar names and branding can be imitated.
Before acting, ask whether you expected the message, whether the sender address or number fits the organization, and what action it wants from you. If you can inspect a link without opening it, check whether its destination matches the real organization; do not click just to find out. If anything feels wrong—or even if it simply needs confirmation—check with the person or organization through a trusted number, app, or address you already have, or visit its genuine site directly. Legitimate organizations do send routine messages, so an unexpected message alone does not prove fraud; the requested action and independent confirmation matter. FTC guidance on recognizing and avoiding phishing scams FTC alert on phishing scams that can be hard to spot
What to do with a suspicious email or text
- Do not interact with it. Do not click links, open attachments, reply with information, or use phone numbers or contact details included in the message. Avoid using an unsubscribe link in a message you suspect is fraudulent.
- Verify separately. Visit the service’s genuine website by typing its address or using a saved bookmark, or contact the organization through a trusted number or address you find independently.
- Report it, then delete it. The FTC says phishing emails can be forwarded to [email protected], phishing texts can be forwarded to 7726, and suspected scams can be reported at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Check the FTC’s current guidance for up-to-date reporting options and any organization-specific reporting process.
What to do if you clicked or shared information
A click does not tell you by itself whether anything was stolen or installed. Focus on what happened next and take the relevant steps promptly, using genuine sites and contact channels rather than links from the message.
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- FIDO2 + FIDO U2F certified and supported USB security key
- Secured by NXP semiconductors
- Works in every browser and application without installing any drivers
- Supports desktops, laptops, tablets via USB-A and/or NFC, and supports iOS/Android Phones via NFC
- Helps protect your accounts from phishing and other cyber-attacks. Prevents your devices from unauthorized use.
If you entered a password
Go to the genuine site and change that password. Change it anywhere else you reused it, and turn on multifactor authentication (MFA) for the affected account if available. If the account contains payment or other sensitive details, contact the provider through a verified channel.
If you shared financial or identity information
Contact the bank, card issuer, or other relevant institution using a number or address you independently know to be genuine. For tailored steps after identity information has been exposed, use IdentityTheft.gov.
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- FIDO2 + FIDO U2F certified and supported USB security key
- Supports Computers, Laptops, Tablets, and Mobile Devices with a USB-C port and/or NFC
- Works without downloading any drivers. Supported OS: Android, Chrome OS, Windows, MacOS, Linux
- Durable design made to last for a long time with everyday use. Water-resistant (IP67)
- Helps protect your accounts from phishing and other cyber-attacks. Prevents your devices from unauthorized use.
If you opened or downloaded a file
Update your device’s security software and run a scan. Follow its instructions to remove any detected malware. A scan is a useful response, but a clean result does not prove that a device is free of every problem. See the FTC’s malware guidance for more steps.
How to make accounts and devices harder to compromise
- Use strong, unique passwords for important accounts; a password manager can help you manage them.
- Enable MFA, especially on email, financial, and other important accounts. MFA makes it harder for someone to access an account with a stolen password, but it does not make suspicious messages safe. Where supported, consider phishing-resistant options; CISA’s guidance describes security keys as one MFA method. Check account compatibility before choosing a physical key. CISA MFA guidance
- Keep your operating system, apps, browser, and security software updated, and back up important data.
- Pause when a message creates urgency or asks for credentials, money, or an unexpected attachment. Verify it using a channel outside the message.
CISA’s October 2025 cybersecurity essentials poster identifies a physical security key as the strongest protection among the MFA methods shown; availability depends on whether the account supports it. CISA cybersecurity essentials poster
Rank #4
- FIDO2 SECURITY KEY: A versatile, tamper-evident USB-C authentication device with sensitive presence detection for online security. FIDO 2.0 level 1 and U2F certified
- PASSWORDLESS CONVENIENCE: Replace frustrating passwords with a simple 4-digit PIN for accessing apps and sites. Seamlessly login to web apps and Windows sessions
- BROAD COMPATIBILITY: Works with Windows, Mac, Linux, Apple, iOS, iPhone, Android and USB-C devices. Seamlessly integrates with Identity Providers or Credential Management Systems supporting FIDO2, including Thales, Microsoft, AWS, and Google
- ENHANCED USER ADOPTION: Features a sensitive presence detector on the USB key, providing ease of use and superior security. Certified for U2F and FIDO2, ideal for individuals who want to secure access to their personal online accounts - Microsoft, Google, Twitter, Facebook, GitHub
- THALES: We offer a wide range of FIDO authenticators, providing robust, phishing-resistant MFA that comply with stringent regulations. With almost three decades of experience, Thales is a pioneer in passwordless authentication devices, supported globally by the FIDO Alliance and industry analysts
What the latest reported figures do—and do not—show
The FTC reported in April 2025 that email was the top method scammers used to contact people in 2024. That is about scam contact methods overall, not the number of phishing emails or the prevalence of phishing. FTC, April 2025
In June 2026, the FTC reported $3.5 billion in losses to imposter scams in 2025. Those scams used multiple routes, including text, phone, email, social media, and search results; the figure is not a phishing-only loss total. FTC, June 2026
Quick Recap
Best Value
- SECURITY KEY FOR ENTERPRISE ACCESS: Supports FIDO2 passkeys and U2F for secure authentication across enterprise IT systems.
- PHISHING-RESISTANT AUTHENTICATION: Enables passwordless login with secure on-device credential storage and PIN-based user verification.
- COMPATIBLE WITH ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS: Works with FIDO2, WebAuthn, and U2F across enterprise, cloud, and modern IT environments.
- DRIVERLESS FIDO2 AUTHENTICATION: FIDO2 works natively with modern browsers and platforms. No drivers required.
- USB AND NFC CONNECTIVITY: Supports authentication via USB-C and NFC. No batteries required.
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