Final answer:
Phishing is a social engineering tactic used by hackers to collect personal information from victims, often through deceptive emails or messages. It is essential to be cautious while sharing personal data online to protect against scams and maintain privacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
A form of social engineering that attempts to gather information from victims is known as phishing.
Phishing is a deceptive method where hackers pose as trustworthy entities to trick individuals into providing sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details.
This malicious activity can occur through various mediums, including email, telephone, or text messages. In these attacks, individuals might receive messages that seem legitimate, often creating a sense of urgency, such as a false alert that their account has been compromised.
As phishing techniques become more sophisticated, being vigilant and cautious with personal information is critical, especially when responding to unsolicited communications.
Another example of information gathering is used in human trafficking, where traffickers utilize threats or coercion to exploit individuals, often requiring personal details from victims. This exploitation is not limited to physical harm but includes the unlawful acquisition of personal data.
When searching for jobs or interacting on the internet, it's essential to be wary of scams and identity theft attempts, ensuring that personal information is shared only with legitimate parties and through secure channels.
Online presence has increased the vulnerability to different forms of exploitation, hence understanding the risks and taking precautions is necessary to safeguard individual privacy and security.