How to identify phishing websites
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2025 10:07 am
Phishing sites often have deceptive URLs that are slightly different from legitimate sites or misspelled. They may display poor design quality or contain unusual pop-ups and redirects. You can identify these malicious sites by watching for unsolicited emails asking you to provide sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card information, or asking you to click on unfamiliar links.
What is a phishing website?
A phishing website is a deceptive online platform that buy bulk sms service is made to look similar to a legitimate website with the aim of tricking users into revealing personal information.
Shocking statistics show that 53% of employees fall for phishing emails and enter data in 23% of cases, while only 7% report such impersonations to security.
With data breaches resulting from phishing becoming increasingly expensive (IBM estimates the average cost at $4.35 million), it is critical to understand how phishing works.
How does phishing work?
Scammers will create a fake website that looks just like the real thing. They may also use social engineering techniques, such as emails or phone calls, to convince people that they are legitimate.
Scammers trick people into handing over their login credentials or other sensitive information by posing as someone they trust, such as an IT support worker, or by using scare tactics, such as telling people their accounts have been hacked.
Using this information, scammers can gain access to your accounts and steal your money, personal data, and passwords.
How to identify phishing websites?
The best way to avoid website phishing scams is to be aware of the signs and know how to recognize them.
Here are some ways to identify phishing sites:
Field Analysis
When you see an email asking you to visit a website, the first thing you should do is check its domain name.
For example, if you receive an email asking you to log in to "paypal.com," but the link takes you to something like "paypal-update.com," this probably isn't PayPal's real site.
Related reading: Domain reputation check
Certificate Transparency Log Analysis
One way to detect a phishing site is to compare its SSL certificate to Certificate Transparency logs.
Certificate Transparency (CT) allows you to see all SSL certificates (including cheap SSL certificates) issued by a specific CA or root certificate authority (CA). You can also see when these certificates were issued, who applied for them, and where they are used.
HTML and JavaScript code inspection
An attacker may try to make the phishing site look like the real thing by copying all of the HTML and JavaScript code from the original site.
You can use a web inspection tool like Firebug or Chrome Dev Tools to visually inspect the HTML and JavaScript code of the page to check for any differences between it and the original website.
URL Reputation Check
Search engines like Google have block lists of known bad URLs and can automatically block access to those sites.
If you see these URLs in your browser address bar, it's likely someone is trying to impersonate your bank or other company's URL that's known to Google -- broken.
Related reading: What is URL phishing?
Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) models for phishing detection
Using advanced machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence models, these technologies analyze various characteristics of a website, such as URL structure, content, images, and behavioral patterns to identify potential phishing attempts.
These models can effectively detect and flag suspicious websites by learning from patterns and historical data.
What is a phishing website?
A phishing website is a deceptive online platform that buy bulk sms service is made to look similar to a legitimate website with the aim of tricking users into revealing personal information.
Shocking statistics show that 53% of employees fall for phishing emails and enter data in 23% of cases, while only 7% report such impersonations to security.
With data breaches resulting from phishing becoming increasingly expensive (IBM estimates the average cost at $4.35 million), it is critical to understand how phishing works.
How does phishing work?
Scammers will create a fake website that looks just like the real thing. They may also use social engineering techniques, such as emails or phone calls, to convince people that they are legitimate.
Scammers trick people into handing over their login credentials or other sensitive information by posing as someone they trust, such as an IT support worker, or by using scare tactics, such as telling people their accounts have been hacked.
Using this information, scammers can gain access to your accounts and steal your money, personal data, and passwords.
How to identify phishing websites?
The best way to avoid website phishing scams is to be aware of the signs and know how to recognize them.
Here are some ways to identify phishing sites:
Field Analysis
When you see an email asking you to visit a website, the first thing you should do is check its domain name.
For example, if you receive an email asking you to log in to "paypal.com," but the link takes you to something like "paypal-update.com," this probably isn't PayPal's real site.
Related reading: Domain reputation check
Certificate Transparency Log Analysis
One way to detect a phishing site is to compare its SSL certificate to Certificate Transparency logs.
Certificate Transparency (CT) allows you to see all SSL certificates (including cheap SSL certificates) issued by a specific CA or root certificate authority (CA). You can also see when these certificates were issued, who applied for them, and where they are used.
HTML and JavaScript code inspection
An attacker may try to make the phishing site look like the real thing by copying all of the HTML and JavaScript code from the original site.
You can use a web inspection tool like Firebug or Chrome Dev Tools to visually inspect the HTML and JavaScript code of the page to check for any differences between it and the original website.
URL Reputation Check
Search engines like Google have block lists of known bad URLs and can automatically block access to those sites.
If you see these URLs in your browser address bar, it's likely someone is trying to impersonate your bank or other company's URL that's known to Google -- broken.
Related reading: What is URL phishing?
Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) models for phishing detection
Using advanced machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence models, these technologies analyze various characteristics of a website, such as URL structure, content, images, and behavioral patterns to identify potential phishing attempts.
These models can effectively detect and flag suspicious websites by learning from patterns and historical data.