The statement "phishing is not often responsible for PII data breaches" is false. Phishing is actually often responsible for PII (Personally Identifiable Information) data breaches and is considered one of the leading methods cybercriminals use to steal sensitive personal information. Reports indicate that phishing attacks account for a significant portion of data breaches, with around 22% to 36% of all data breaches involving phishing as the initial attack vector. These attacks frequently lead to the compromise of PII such as login credentials, credit card details, and social security numbers. Phishing remains a major cybersecurity threat that results in substantial financial losses and data privacy violations.
Phishing attacks use deceptive emails, texts, or websites to trick victims into revealing sensitive information, often exploiting social engineering tactics to incite urgency or fear. This common tactic consistently results in exposure of PII and is a frequent cause of data breaches in organizations across various sectors.
