What type of attack does phishing represent?

Phishing represents a form of social engineering attack aimed at misleading users into divulging sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details. This type of attack typically involves tricking individuals into believing that they are interacting with a legitimate entity, such as a bank or a trusted service, often through deceptive emails or websites that appear authentic. By exploiting human psychology and trust, attackers create a scenario where victims are likely to provide their information voluntarily, making phishing a particularly effective and concerning threat in the realm of cybersecurity.

The other options do not accurately describe phishing: direct network intrusions involve technical exploits to penetrate systems; hardware failures pertain to physical issues with equipment, and denial-of-service operations aim to overwhelm services, disrupting access rather than collecting information through deception.