What is the term for a malicious attempt to persuade individuals to reveal personal information?

The term for a malicious attempt to persuade individuals to reveal personal information is phishing. Phishing is a form of social engineering where attackers pose as trusted entities through various means such as email, text messages, or websites to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or social security numbers.

Phishing attacks often use misleading messages that create a sense of urgency or fear, prompting the recipient to act quickly without verifying the legitimacy of the source. This tactic takes advantage of human psychology and can lead to significant data breaches and financial losses for individuals and organizations alike.

Understanding phishing is critical in cybersecurity, as it highlights the importance of being cautious with personal information and verifying sources before responding to requests for sensitive data.