What is phishing primarily used for?

Phishing is primarily used to steal personal information via email. This type of cyberattack involves deceiving individuals into providing sensitive data such as passwords, credit card numbers, or social security numbers by using fraudulent emails that appear to be from legitimate sources. Attackers often create a sense of urgency or trust, making it more likely for individuals to click on malicious links or download harmful attachments.

In contrast, the other choices focus on positive outcomes related to online security and communication, which do not align with the deceptive nature of phishing. Enhancing online shopping security or improving communications between banks and customers does not reflect the malicious intent behind phishing schemes, while protecting personal financial assets is the opposite of what phishing aims to achieve. Therefore, the focus on information theft categorizes phishing clearly as a serious cybersecurity threat.