What does phishing attempt to achieve?

Phishing is a cyber attack designed to deceive individuals into providing sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, credit card details, and other personal data. Attackers often pose as trustworthy entities, such as banks, social media platforms, or reputable organizations, to lure victims into clicking on malicious links or providing data through fake forms.

The essence of phishing lies in manipulation and deception. By creating a sense of urgency or pretending to be a reliable source, attackers convince users to bypass their typical caution. Phishing can take various forms, including emails that look legitimate but contain harmful links or attachments, spoofed websites that mimic real sites, and even phone calls that seek personal information under false pretenses.

The other options do not align with the fundamental goal of phishing. Scheduling software updates, improving website design, and enhancing user experience are all benign or constructive actions that do not involve exploiting individuals for sensitive information. Thus, the primary intention behind phishing is indeed to deceive individuals into revealing their sensitive data.