Phishing is serious business, so a while back I looked around for safeguards to assist me while browsing.
In computing, phishing is a criminal activity using social engineering techniques.[1] Phishers attempt to fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. eBay and PayPal are two of the most targeted companies, and online banks are also common targets. Phishing is typically carried out using email or an instant message,[2] and often directs users to give details at a website, although phone contact has been used as well.[3] Attempts to deal with the growing number of reported phishing incidents include legislation, user training, and technical measures
And ta-da, I found McAfee SiteAdvisor. Their site states:
We test the Web to help keep you safe from spyware, spam, viruses and online scams.
I’ve been using the Firefox plugin for about a year and so far it works pretty good. What happens is when you search with Google, Yahoo! or MSN, SiteAdvisor’s safety ratings appear next to search results. Also as you browse the web, a small button on your browser toolbar changes color based on SiteAdvisor’s safety results.
Take it easy! ;0)