What does ‘phishing’ refer to?

Phishing is a technique employed by cybercriminals to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details. Typically, this is executed through deceptive emails or messages that appear to be from legitimate sources, which can lead victims to fraudulent websites designed to look authentic. The goal of phishing is to exploit human psychology—specifically trust and urgency—making it a significant threat in the realm of cybersecurity. By recognizing phishing as a way to deceive individuals into providing confidential information, one can better grasp the importance of awareness and training in identifying such threats.

In contrast, the other options describe different aspects of cybersecurity: detecting malware, protecting against data breaches, and securing financial transactions, but they do not specifically pertain to the deceptive practice of phishing.