What is phishing?

Phishing is defined as a fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information by disguising as a trustworthy entity. This deceptive practice is commonly carried out through emails, messages, or websites that appear to be legitimate. The primary aim of phishing is to trick individuals into providing personal information such as usernames, passwords, credit card details, or other confidential data.

The nature of phishing exploits human psychology—such as trust and urgency—making it an effective method for cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. Individuals receiving a phishing attempt might see an email that looks like it’s from their bank or a reputable service, often prompting them to click on a link and enter their information on a fraudulent webpage designed to resemble the real one.

This definition distinguishes phishing from the other options provided. For instance, techniques for software security testing involve testing software applications for vulnerabilities and do not pertain to deceptive practices for information theft. Data backup is a method used to create copies of data to prevent loss and is unrelated to deceptive acquiring of information. Protecting physical assets focuses on safeguarding tangible items, which is separate from the concept of data theft that phishing embodies.