Identify a common type of social engineering attack.

Phishing is a common type of social engineering attack because it relies on manipulating individuals into providing sensitive information, such as passwords or financial details, through deceptive communications. Typically conducted via email, phone calls, or text messages, phishing attempts often impersonate trusted entities, making it difficult for recipients to discern the malicious intent behind the correspondence.

The effectiveness of phishing lies in its ability to exploit human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. Attackers may create a sense of urgency or fear, prompting recipients to act quickly without carefully evaluating the request. This tactic contrasts with other types of cyber attacks that focus more on exploiting system weaknesses or using brute-force methods to gain unauthorized access. Thus, phishing is particularly concerning for organizations, emphasizing the need for ongoing awareness training and robust security measures to mitigate the risk of social engineering attacks.