Which best describes phishing attacks?

Phishing attacks are best described as targeted attempts to gain sensitive information through deception. This method typically involves tricking individuals into revealing personal data, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or social security numbers, often via deceptive emails or websites that appear legitimate. The attackers create an environment that closely mimics a trusted source, which can involve using official-looking logos, language, and formats to build credibility and encourage the victim to disclose sensitive information or click on harmful links.

This understanding distinguishes phishing from other forms of cyber attacks. For instance, brute force methods, commonly associated with attempting to gain unauthorized access to accounts or systems, do not involve deception of the user in the same way that phishing does. Similarly, distributing unwanted emails is more akin to spam rather than a focused attempt to extract sensitive information, which is the core objective of phishing. Lastly, scanning for vulnerabilities refers to assessing systems for weaknesses rather than actively engaging in deceptive tactics to extract private data from users. Thus, the essence of phishing lies in its deceptive nature aimed at manipulating individuals into compromising their own security.