What is phishing?

Phishing is defined as a method used to acquire sensitive information by deception, which makes this answer the correct choice. This technique typically involves fraudulent communications, often appearing to come from reputable sources, such as banks or well-known companies. The goal is to trick individuals into providing personal information, such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, or other confidential data.

Common forms of phishing include emails, text messages, or websites that look legitimate but are designed to lure victims into inputting their sensitive information. Understanding phishing is crucial in digital security because it helps individuals recognize the potential threats and take precautions to protect their data.

The other options represent various concepts in computing but do not pertain to the definition of phishing. For instance, a software application refers to programs designed to perform specific tasks, a network protocol specifies rules for data exchange over a network, and a programming language is a structured system for writing computer programs. None of these choices convey the essence of phishing, which is fundamentally about deception and data theft.