Phishing basics
What phishing is, why it works, and how link confirmation helps.
Definition
Phishing is when attackers impersonate trusted brands or people to steal credentials, money, or access.
Common channels
- Email and spam filters’ near-misses
- SMS (“smishing”) and messaging apps
- Social media DMs and fake support accounts
- Compromised ads or search results
Why links are dangerous
A single click can start downloads, OAuth consent tricks, or credential pages that look pixel-perfect. Redirect chains can hide the real destination until the last hop.
How confirmURL.com fits
We help you observe the destination and behavior in a throwaway session. You still need good habits: official apps, password managers that autofill only on exact domains, and hardware keys where possible.