In cybersecurity, what does the term 'phishing' refer to?

Phishing refers to a technique employed by cybercriminals to deceive individuals into providing sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal data. This is typically achieved through fraudulent emails that impersonate legitimate organizations or individuals, enticing the target to click on malicious links or attachments.

The goal of phishing is to make the victim believe they are interacting with a trusted entity, thereby tricking them into disclosing their confidential information. This form of attack exploits the trust that users place in familiar communications, making it a prevalent threat in cybersecurity.

The other options do not accurately represent phishing. For instance, encrypting data is a security measure used to protect information from unauthorized access but does not involve deception or manipulation. Improving network security encompasses a range of strategies and tools to protect networks from threats, rather than targeting individuals to extract information through trickery. Similarly, a standard for secure communications would involve protocols for safeguarding information exchanges but does not involve the deceptive tactics that characterize phishing.