What type of attack does phishing refer to?

Phishing refers to an electronic mail attack that seeks sensitive information by impersonating legitimate entities. In a phishing attack, the attacker typically sends a fraudulent email that appears to come from a reputable source, such as a bank, a popular website, or a trusted individual. The goal is to trick the recipient into revealing personal information, such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, or other forms of sensitive data.

This technique exploits the trust that users often place in well-known organizations and often includes links to fake websites that closely resemble the legitimate ones. By using social engineering tactics, phishing can successfully deceive individuals into providing the information criminals need to commit identity theft or financial fraud.

The other types of attacks mentioned do not align with the characteristics of phishing. A software exploit that damages systems refers to a different category of attacks focused on vulnerabilities in software rather than deceit through communication. Brute-forcing passwords involves algorithmic attempts to guess a password, while network intrusion detection is a security practice aimed at identifying potential threats on a network.