Phishing is a form of cybercrime where criminals attempt to steal personal information like credit card details or passwords by posing as a legitimate company. They do this through emails, phone calls, or text messages that try to trick users into providing sensitive data or downloading malware. To prevent phishing, people should avoid giving out private information, be wary of unsolicited requests for financial details, regularly check account statements for unauthorized activity, and only access banking websites by typing the URL directly. Strong passwords and up-to-date antivirus software can also help protect against phishing scams.