What are phishing detection filters and how do they differ from spam?

Phishing detection filters specifically target deceptive emails designed to steal credentials or personal information. While spam is unwanted commercial mail, phishing is criminal fraud impersonating trusted entities.

Phishing filters analyze URL patterns, checking for domain typosquatting, suspicious redirects, and links to known phishing pages. They examine brand impersonation, detecting when senders fake the appearance of banks, tech companies, or internal IT departments.

Advanced phishing filters use computer vision to analyze landing pages, detecting fake login forms that mimic legitimate sites. They also check DMARC alignment to verify the sender actually represents the claimed brand.

The stakes are higher with phishing. A false negative can result in credential theft and data breaches. Filters are more aggressive, sometimes blocking legitimate mail that resembles phishing patterns.

Spam filters stop unwanted salespeople. Phishing filters stop criminals wearing disguises.