What tactic is commonly used in phishing attacks?

Phishing attacks often involve impersonating a trusted entity to request sensitive information from victims. This tactic is effective because attackers exploit the victim's trust in a legitimate organization, such as a bank, government agency, or well-known company. By crafting emails, messages, or websites that closely resemble those of the trusted entity, attackers can deceive individuals into providing personal information, credentials, or financial data.

The essence of phishing lies in its psychological manipulation, where attackers create a sense of urgency or fear, encouraging the target to act quickly without fully evaluating the request's legitimacy. This method is prevalent due to its relatively low cost and high potential reward for the attackers, making it a widely used technique in cybercrime. Other options, while they may involve security or maintenance practices, do not accurately capture the primary tactic of phishing.