What is phishing and how does it trick users into revealing sensitive information through fake emails? Learn how phishing attacks impersonate trusted entities to steal credentials—essential for CompTIA Security+ (Plus) SY0-701 exam success.
Table of Contents
Question
A user receives an email that appears to be from their bank asking them to update their account details via a provided link. What type of attack is this?
A. Trojan horse
B. Cross-site scripting
C. Phishing
D. Zero-day attack
E. Ransomware
Answer
C. Phishing
Explanation
Phishing attacks trick users into providing sensitive information by pretending to be a trusted entity.
When a user receives an email that appears to be from their bank, asking them to update account details via a provided link, this is a phishing attack.
Phishing is a form of social engineering where attackers impersonate reputable organizations or individuals in emails, messages, or websites to deceive users into providing sensitive information such as login credentials, account numbers, or financial data.
The attacker crafts a message that looks legitimate, often using the branding and language of the real institution, and includes a link to a fraudulent website designed to capture the user’s confidential information when they attempt to log in or update details.
Phishing attacks are widespread and effective because they exploit trust and urgency, prompting users to act quickly without verifying the authenticity of the request.
Common targets include banks, online services, and corporate systems, and the consequences can include identity theft, financial loss, and unauthorized access to accounts.
Preventative measures include user education, anti-phishing tools, and multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of compromised credentials.
Phishing attacks trick users into revealing sensitive information by pretending to be a trusted entity, often through convincing emails with malicious links or attachments.
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