Network Defense Essentials (NDE) Practice Exam 2025 - Free Network Defense Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct choice highlights a method of attack that relies on psychological manipulation to deceive individuals into divulging sensitive information. Social engineering exploits the human element in cybersecurity, leveraging trust and social interactions rather than technological vulnerabilities.

In the context of the question, an attacker might send a fraudulent email or message that appears legitimate, prompting an employee to click on a malicious link. This action can lead to the unintentional provision of personal data or credentials when the user is directed to a fake website designed to mimic a trustworthy entity. This type of attack capitalizes on individuals’ tendency to trust familiar-looking communications, making them susceptible to manipulation.

The other options describe different types of attacks. Data harvesting refers to the collection of large amounts of data, often without malicious intent, and does not specifically involve tricking individuals. Malware injection involves inserting malicious software into a system or application, and SQL injection targets databases directly through code insertion. SQL injection is a technical exploitation method that does not involve direct interaction with human victims in the same way that social engineering does.