An exploration of the design features of phishing attacks

Phishing is a growing phenomenon, which has not only caused billions in losses, but also has eroded consumer confidence in online transactions. To develop effective countermeasures, we need to understand how phishing e-mails exploit human vulnerabilities. We develop a framework to explore phishing from the perspective of victims. The framework helps understand different features that are utilized by phishers in designing e-mails and websites.