What is a phishing email? Phishing emails are designed to look like they're from a legitimate, trustworthy source. Their goal is to trick you into clicking on links or opening attachments that can lead to identity theft and other forms of fraud. Phishing was 2021's top infection strategy, and the brands that were most imitated in phishing attacks are among the largest and most trusted companies: Microsoft, Apple, and Google. To avoid becoming the victim of a phishing attack from spam emails, follow these simple steps: