# Phishing

**Phishing** is the practice of tricking a user into using malicious software that is designed to look legitimate. The malicious site may try to harvest credentials, or trick a user into downloading a tampered version of key software. For example, if you are tricked into logging into a malicious website at c0inbase.com, the attacker can then use your username and password to access your Coinbase account.&#x20;

Phishing is a common practice. Users of desktop wallets like [**Electrum**](https://cointelegraph.com/news/phishing-attack-on-electrum-wallet-nets-hacker-almost-1-million-in-hours-report) were attacked with a false upgrade notice, tricking them into downloading a version of the software that steals their Bitcoin.

**Mitigation:**

* Watch carefully for HTTPS warnings on cryptocurrency sites.
* Always check the URL on cryptocurrency sites.
* Use a multi-signature wallet, which would require the user to be tricked multiple times before fund theft is possible.&#x20;
* Use a sovereign key storage system that avoids single points of failure.
