Phishing is a type of Internet scam in which attackers try to pose as legitimate companies or organizations in order to collect your personal information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or bank account numbers. They do this by sending emails that appear to come from a well-known company, often containing links to fake websites or virus-infected attachments.

1. Check the sender's address : Check the sender's email address carefully. Often, phishing e-mails are sent from addresses that are only slightly different from the addresses of legitimate companies.
2. Read the text of the message carefully : Phishing e-mails often contain spelling mistakes and generic messages. Also, the text of the message may be unnatural and unprofessional.
3. Be careful with "urgent" messages : Phishing emails often try to create a sense of urgency to get you to click on a link or open an attachment. Be careful with messages that ask you to take an urgent action.
4. Do not click on links in an e-mail : If you are not sure of the authenticity of an e-mail, do not click on the links in it. Even if the link seems legitimate, you can verify the URL by placing your mouse cursor over the link (without clicking) and seeing the real URL in the lower left corner of your email program window. If the address doesn't match the website of the company the email purports to come from, don't click on it.
5. Do not open email attachments : Phishing emails often contain virus-infected attachments. If you are not sure of the authenticity of the e-mail, do not open the attachments in it.
6. Use an anti-virus program : An anti-virus program can help protect your computer from viruses that are often found in phishing e-mails.