Fishing vs Phishing: Difference and Comparison

People spend their time doing different things. Some read some write, some cook, some go on a hike, some spend their time on the internet. Fishing is also one of the hobbies people love.

Phishing on the other hand is a scam that is used to get the personal and financial information of a person.

Key Takeaways

  1. Fishing is a recreational activity or profession that involves catching fish, while phishing is a cybercrime that targets online users.
  2. Fishing requires physical tools like rods and bait, whereas phishing uses deceptive emails and websites.
  3. Phishing aims to steal personal information, whereas fishing is for leisure or sustenance.

Fishing vs Phishing

Fishing refers to the technique, occupation, or activity of catching or trying to catch fish in the water for food, trade or just for sport. Phishing is a type of social engineering attack in which criminals dangle a fake lure to steal user data, including login credentials and credit card numbers.

Fishing vs Phishing

Fishing is done in the wilderness but also in many other water bodies for recreational and selling purposes. There are many techniques used in fishing.

Equipment like nets, spears, hooks, and traps are used. The term fishing cannot be used to denote the action of collecting cultured fishes. Catching whales also don’t come under fishing. But it is called whaling.

Phishing is the act of trying to trick someone to get their bank details and other important information. With the increase in the usage of the internet, phishing has become very common.

Phishing is sometimes done to hack or to insert software that is malicious into the target system.

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonFishingPhishing
Place of occurrence Sea, Lakes, Rivers, Ponds, etcOnline
EffectsFishing tournaments make people joyful It causes loss for the victim
MotiveTo collect a large amount of fish to sell or as entertainment To steal the bank details and other information of a person
TypesAngle fishing, trap fishing, boat fishingSMS phishing, Mail Phishing, Voice Phishing, etc
ResultFishes, Crustaceans, and Molluscs are obtained The attacker gets access to the victim’s bank and other accounts

What is Fishing?

Fishing is the term used for the act of collecting fish from water bodies. Catching crustaceans like prawns, shrimps, lobsters, and crabs, Molluscs like squid are also called fishing.

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People who take this as a full-time job and sell the fish they have gathered are called the fishermen.

Sea fishing is quite common but it is also done in rivers, ponds, lakes, and other reservoirs. People get involved in recreational fishing also.

This type of fishing is done for entertainment purposes. Fishing tournaments involve many competitors catching fish and the best one gets a prize. Recreational fishing occurs during camps and picnics.

Fishing during picnics is fun. They occur during summers. People go to a spot that is near a lake, pond, or river. Hiking to this spot is also common.

Then fishes are caught and they cook the fish in the picnic spot. This type of fishing helps people relax their minds and take a break from the hustle of daily life. Weekend fishing was common in England during the 19th century.

Tactics of fishing differ depending on the type of fish. Shellfishes like mussels are easy to fish on the other hand fin-fishes are hard to catch. They are however lured by a bait and caught.

Traditional methods of fishing have been practiced by tribal people. They use naturally available things like bamboo to set traps for fishes in running water. A modern fisherman uses large patches, boats, and ships.

fishing 1

What is Phishing?

Phishing is luring people just like Fishing in which bait is used to lure the fish. It is the most common and highly committed cybercrime.

Phishing lets the attacker observe the activities of the victim on the phishing site they are lured to. Phishing is classified into various types. Email phishing, spear phishing, clone phishing, SMS phishing, Voice phishing are some of the types of phishing.

Email Phishing is the most common type of Phishing. Here, emails are delivered generally. It is not targeted and does not involve the name or any personal pieces of information of the targeted person.

Spear phishing involves emails that are customized or made for a particular person. This involves the use of the person’s name. Spear phishing looks more legitimate and many people fall for this.

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Voice Phishing is done via phone calls. A bunch of people is ringing and prerecorded audios are played. These recordings are made with text to a speech synthesizer.

These calls ask the victims to contact other numbers. SMS phishing is quite like email phishing. People are lured by mobile phone texts. Links are attached in this message, which the victims are asked to visit.

Anti-phishing websites are working to spread the news about the latest phishing messages. Legislation and technology against phishing are available.

Training people to recognize and differentiate phishing messages from legitimate messages can be done to prevent phishing. Banks and other financial organizations request their customers not to share their bank details and pin with anyone.

phishing

Main Differences Between Fishing and Phishing

  1. Fishing is an act done for recreational or economic purposes. But, Phishing is done to get the crucial information of a person like their bank details and log in.
  2. Sea, River, Lakes, and Ponds are the sites in which fishing is done whereas, Phishing occurs online or by phone calls
  3. Angling, Trapping, and Using nets are some of the methods of Fishing. While, Mails, Phone calls, SMS are used in Phishing
  4. Fishing is a hobby for many people but a job for others. It is entertaining and helps some people deal with stress. While Phishing is a crime and is punishable
  5. The product obtained by fishing is the fish they are either sold or cooked and consumed. Sensitive information is obtained by Phishing and it is used against people.
Difference Between Fishing and Phishing
References
  1. https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=3bag1c0AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra
  2. http://repository.seafdec.or.th/handle/20.500.12067/496

Last Updated : 13 July, 2023

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6 thoughts on “Fishing vs Phishing: Difference and Comparison”

  1. The comparison between fishing and phishing is clear and provides valuable insight into these two related yet distinct activities. This article effectively highlights the differences between the two, which is crucial for educating the public.

    Reply
  2. Fishing is a great way to relax and spend time with nature, while phishing is a serious crime that affects many people worldwide. It’s important to be aware of the differences between these key terms.

    Reply
  3. The comparison between fishing and phishing is presented in an informative and engaging manner, shedding light on the contrasting nature of these practices. It serves as a helpful resource for understanding these important distinctions.

    Reply
  4. The detailed explanation of fishing and phishing demonstrates the importance of distinguishing between these activities. This article effectively addresses the differences and provides valuable information for readers.

    Reply
  5. Phishing and fishing are important topics in today’s society, and it’s crucial to understand the key distinctions between them to prevent falling victim to online scams.

    Reply
  6. While fishing is a common hobby enjoyed by many, phishing is a dangerous cybercrime that poses serious threats to individuals. It’s essential for people to be informed about the differences in order to protect themselves online.

    Reply

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