What does the term "phishing" refer to in cybersecurity?

The term "phishing" in cybersecurity specifically refers to a type of cyber attack whereby attackers impersonate trustworthy entities, often through email or other forms of communication, to deceive individuals into providing sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, or financial details. This tactic exploits the victim's trust, leading them to believe they are interacting with a legitimate source, such as a bank or online service, when in fact they are communicating with a malicious actor.

By mimicking familiar communication styles and using convincing scenarios, attackers can effectively lure victims into clicking malicious links or downloading harmful attachments. Understanding phishing is crucial for cybersecurity analysts as it represents a significant threat to individuals and organizations, making it essential to develop strategies and measures for prevention and detection.

The other answer choices relate to different aspects of cybersecurity but do not define phishing accurately. For instance, encrypting sensitive data is about protecting the confidentiality of information, securing wireless networks pertains to ensuring the security of the connections, and a protocol for secure data transmission involves technical frameworks for safeguarding data during transfer. None of these directly describe the deceptive tactics employed in phishing attacks.