What is phishing in cybersecurity? Definition, examples, and how to stop it

Phishing in cybersecurity is a sophisticated and persistent threat that exploits human trust to steal sensitive information or gain unauthorized access, often bypassing traditional email security measures. Modern phishing techniques go beyond fake login pages to include tactics like OAuth consent requests, QR codes, and the use of legitimate cloud services, making detection with conventional tools challenging. Attackers employ various methods, such as credential phishing, OAuth phishing, and QR code phishing, to manipulate users into revealing credentials or granting access. Traditional secure email gateways struggle to detect these attacks due to their reliance on static indicators, while phishing tactics continuously evolve, exploiting trusted infrastructures and dynamic redirections. Tools like Sublime Security enhance phishing detection and response by providing adaptive, explainable AI-powered models that evaluate message context and sender behavior, offering transparency and control to security teams.