Which of the following best describes "phishing"?

Phishing is best described as a method to trick individuals into providing sensitive information. This malicious technique typically involves deceptive emails, messages, or websites that impersonate legitimate entities to lure individuals into giving up personal data such as passwords, credit card numbers, or social security numbers. The core of phishing lies in its exploitative nature that plays on human psychology—creating a sense of urgency, fear, or curiosity to prompt victims to act quickly without verifying the authenticity of the request.

This method can take various forms, including email phishing, spear phishing (targeted attacks), and whaling (attacks aimed at high-profile targets). Regardless of its form, the objective remains the same: to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information that can be misused for identity theft, financial fraud, or unauthorized access to personal or corporate systems.

In contrast, a legitimate request for user data does not involve deception; social media can be a platform for phishing attacks, but it doesn't define the method itself; and a tool to improve system security describes practices aimed at defending against threats, not creating them.