What is phishing?

Phishing is defined as a technique used by cybercriminals to steal personal information by sending deceptive emails. These emails often appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks or trusted organizations, and they typically encourage the recipient to click on a link, provide personal information, or download harmful software. The goal of phishing is to trick individuals into divulging sensitive data, such as usernames, passwords, or financial information, which can then be exploited for fraudulent purposes.

This method is particularly insidious because it takes advantage of people's trust in familiar brands or services, making them more likely to fall for the deception. It's essential to recognize this threat and understand safe online practices, such as verifying the sender's email address and not clicking on suspicious links, to protect oneself from these types of attacks. Other options, such as enhancing privacy, improving search engine results, or online collaboration tools, do not accurately capture the nature of phishing and its primary purpose of deceit and information theft.