What characterizes phishing attacks?

Phishing attacks are primarily characterized as techniques used to deceive individuals into revealing their sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or other personal details. These attacks often employ social engineering tactics, where the attacker masquerades as a trustworthy entity through emails, messages, or fake websites to manipulate the target into disclosing confidential information.

This approach effectively exploits human psychology rather than relying on technical vulnerabilities, making it distinct from malware or network vulnerabilities. Phishing may entail tactics like urgent prompts or alarming messages that create a sense of urgency, prompting the victim to act quickly without considering the legitimacy of the request.

In contrast, the other choices focus on different aspects of computer security that are not relevant to the primary goal of phishing attacks. For instance, malware and encryption methods serve very different functions in the realm of cybersecurity. Understanding the nature of phishing is critical for fostering awareness and implementing preventive measures against these common threats.