Which of the following best defines phishing?

Phishing is best defined as an attack that involves sending fraudulent communications to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials, financial information, or other personal data. This method typically exploits email, social media, and other forms of communication to impersonate trustworthy entities. The goal is to deceive the recipient into taking action that compromises their data security.

The focus of phishing is on manipulation and deceit, which distinguishes it clearly from methods or strategies designed for safeguarding data or improving compliance with security policies. Safeguarding sensitive data and compliance techniques are proactive measures meant to protect and educate, while phishing is inherently a malicious action aimed at exploitation. Similarly, securing network infrastructure refers to broader strategies and technical measures taken to protect a network from intrusion or attack, which is not applicable in the context of phishing.