CompTIA ITF+ Practice Test

Phishing is defined as a fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information from individuals, often by impersonating a trustworthy source in electronic communications. This can include tactics such as sending emails that appear to be from a legitimate company, prompting users to enter personal information like usernames, passwords, or credit card numbers on fake websites that look real. The primary goal of phishing is to deceive individuals into divulging confidential details, which can then be misused for identity theft, financial fraud, or other malicious purposes.

In this context, the other definitions provided do not align with what phishing actually represents. Securing data, storing passwords securely, and encryption techniques are all focused on protecting information rather than attempting to illicitly acquire it. Therefore, the characterization of phishing as a fraudulent attempt accurately captures its essence and highlights the methods used by attackers to exploit human psychology and technology for unethical gain.