Melissa could click a link in an email from someone impersonating a bank representative; this link could contain code that gives a hacker access to passwords. Which threat is this an example of?

• A. Phishing
• B. Malware
• C. Smishing
• D. Vishing

Answer: (A)

This scenario is an example of phishing. Phishing involves using deceptive messages that impersonate a trusted organization—like a bank—to trick you into taking an action, such as clicking a link or entering passwords. Here, the email pretends to be from a bank representative and asks Melissa to click a link that could reveal her passwords or install harmful code. The tactic relies on masking the message as legitimate to lure the user into divulging credentials.

Other threats differ in how they deliver the lure: smishing uses text messages, and vishing uses phone calls, while malware refers to the harmful software or code itself. In this case, the deception through email points to phishing as the correct distinction. To stay safer, verify the sender independently, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and use direct, official channels to access accounts.