Which of the following best describes phishing?

Phishing is identified as a technique used to gather personal information via deceptive emails. This definition encompasses the fundamental aspects of phishing, which is designed to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, or other personal data by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in electronic communications.

This practice often involves a crafted email that appears to come from a legitimate source, such as a bank or a well-known online service. The email typically contains a link to a fraudulent website that looks authentic, leading the victim to input their personal information unwittingly. By recognizing phishing for what it is—a deceptive means of obtaining personal information—individuals can be more vigilant and take steps to protect themselves from these types of cyber threats.

The other choices do not accurately depict phishing. For instance, the options related to securing data through bandwidth limitations, sharing information securely among users, or a form of malware that corrupts files are focused on different cybersecurity concepts, such as data protection methods, secure communication protocols, or malware characteristics, which are distinct from the act of phishing itself.