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Twishing

Vangie Beal
Last Updated May 24, 2021 7:57 am

Twishing is the act of sending a message to a Twitter user in an attempt to obtain his or her name and password. The message may instruct the recipient to visit a Web site where he or she is asked to log in. The Web site, however, is bogus and set up only to steal the user’s information.

Twishing is Like Phishing

Twishing is a combination of the words Twitter and phishing. The idea is that bait is given out. The concept behind the term phishing to Twitter users with the hopes that while most will ignore the bait, a small percentage will be tricked into revealing their user names and passwords. Twishing may also be seen written in lowercase as twishing.

Also see “Beware of Twishing” in the Did You Know…? section of Webopedia.