What is the main risk associated with phishing attacks?

Phishing attacks primarily aim to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, credit card details, or social security numbers. This malicious tactic often involves a perpetrator impersonating a legitimate entity through emails, messages, or websites that appear trustworthy. The main risk is the unauthorized access to sensitive information that can lead to identity theft, financial loss, or unauthorized access to various personal or corporate accounts.

This clarification underscores the significance of awareness and training in recognizing phishing attempts to mitigate this critical risk. Other options, while they might describe potential issues in a broader technological context, do not directly relate to the principal threat posed by phishing. Loss of internet connection, slow computer performance, and the need for software updates may affect usability or security indirectly, but they do not encapsulate the core risk of exposing sensitive information that defines phishing attacks.