How does phishing differ from other online security threats?
Neil Holloway: Phishing is different from spam, which tries to create new customers or to have you buy something, phishing is more about identity theft than about commerce; it is about attacking existing customers, for example from banks. Phishers direct consumers to phoney websites that instruct them to enter personal financial information such as credit card numbers and passwords. Some of these sites are designed to almost flawlessly resemble those of well-known organisations. Phishers could also be interested in getting e-mail addresses or other personal details. When phishers attempt to get information from Microsoft customers in particular, they are primarily seeking e-mail addresses and associated passwords and credit card information. EPC: It’s pretty obvious what someone can do with your credit card information, but what would a phisher want with an e-mail address? NH: With an e-mail address, a phisher can try to access your account and change your passwords so that you lose ac
