Question

Mark receives an email from his bank asking him to update and verify his credit card details. He replies to the mail with all the requested details. Mark later learns that the mail was not actually sent by his bank and that the information he had shared has been misused. Mark is a victim of ________.

A) hacking
B) sniffing
C) data mining
D) phishing

Answer 1

Mark has experienced a phishing attack, where his credit card and personal information were compromised after he responded to a deceitful email. Phishing attacks attempt to trick individuals into providing sensitive data, which can lead to identity theft and financial loss.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mark is a victim of phishing. Phishing is a fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by disguising oneself as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Unfortunately, in providing his credit card details to what he believed was his bank, Mark has fallen prey to this cybercrime, and his personal and financial information has been misused, potentially leading to identity theft and financial loss.

To protect against such threats, it's important to be vigilant about online security. Key practices include never sharing personal information like social security numbers or credit card details over email or phone unless you are sure of the recipient's identity, installing updated anti-virus software, and regularly monitoring credit history for any unusual activity.