Question

What characteristic describes phishing? group of answer choices

O an attack that slows or crashes a device or network service
O a network device that filters access and traffic coming into a network applications that protect end devices from becoming infected with malicious software
O an email pretending to represent a legitimate organization asking for personal information

Answer 1

Phishing is characterized by deceptive emails that masquerade as legitimate organizations to trick individuals into revealing personal information.

For educational purposes, universities may send fake phishing emails to train staff in identifying such scams.

Therefore, the correct answer is: option "an email pretending to represent a legitimate organization asking for personal information".

Step-by-step explanation:

Phishing is a form of social engineering and scam where attackers deceive people into revealing sensitive information or installing malware such as ransomware.

This fraudulent act often involves sending an email that appears to be from a trusted source, such as a bank, a well-known company, or sometimes even an internal department within an organization, such as the IT department. These emails typically include a call to action, asking the recipient to click on a link or provide personal information.

For example, university staff members might receive a fake phishing email, seemingly from their IT department, with the hidden goal of training them to stay vigilant and skeptical of unexpected requests for information. This illustrates the importance of being a critical reader of all communications, especially those soliciting personal or sensitive information.