CompTIA ITF+ Practice Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Phishing refers to fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, and other confidential data, by masquerading as a trustworthy source in electronic communications. This often occurs through emails, messages, or websites that appear legitimate but are designed to deceive individuals into revealing their personal information.

The core of phishing lies in social engineering, where attackers exploit the trust of users. By crafting convincing messages that mimic well-known organizations or legitimate entities, they trick victims into clicking on malicious links or providing their details on fake forms. Recognizing phishing attempts is critical for maintaining cybersecurity, as they pose significant risks to both individuals and organizations by leading to identity theft, financial loss, and data breaches.

The other options pertain to valid concepts within IT but do not accurately define phishing. For example, data recovery involves methods for retrieving lost data, malware refers to malicious software designed to harm or exploit devices, and optimizing databases relates to techniques used to improve data storage efficiency and retrieval speed. Each of these concepts is distinct and does not capture the essence of phishing.