What is phishing?

Phishing is a fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information, typically by disguising oneself as a trustworthy entity in electronic communications. This type of cybercrime often involves deceptive emails, messages, or websites that appear legitimate, tricking individuals into providing personal data such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, or other confidential information. The use of social engineering tactics in phishing campaigns aims to create a false sense of security and urgency, prompting users to act quickly without thinking critically about the legitimacy of the request.

In contrast, securing sensitive data and verifying user identity are practices aimed at protecting information and ensuring secure authentication, while monitoring network traffic involves tools that analyze data transmission for security purposes. These options do not encompass the essence of phishing, which centers on deception for illicit gain. Thus, defining phishing as a fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information accurately encapsulates its nature and intent.