What are malicious agents designed by spammers and other Internet attackers to farm email addresses off websites or deposit spyware on machines?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks about malicious agents crafted by spammers and attackers to harvest email addresses from websites or to drop spyware on computers. 
Option 1: Destructive agents. This term suggests software whose primary purpose is to cause damage or disrupt systems, such as malware intended to destroy data or cripple operations. While such agents exist, harvesting emails or delivering spyware is not best described by this label, since the focus here is on information gathering and infection rather than outright destruction. 
Option 2: Phishing expedition. This phrase is commonly used to describe attempts to trick users into revealing personal information or to compromise systems, often by pretending to be a trustworthy entity. Harvesting emails and deploying spyware align with these deceptive, information-gathering tactics, making this option a good fit for the described malicious activity. 
Option 3: Social engineering. Social engineering is a broad category referring to manipulating people into breaking security practices or revealing information. While phishing is a form of social engineering, the question emphasizes the specific tactic of harvesting emails and planting spyware, which is more precisely captured by the term phishing expedition, though social engineering underpins such attacks. 
In summary, the activity described best matches a targeted probing and deception scenario intended to obtain addresses or install software, which is characteristic of a phishing expedition rather than simply destructive actions or broad social manipulation.

What are malicious agents designed by spammers and other Internet attackers to farm email addresses off websites or deposit spyware on machines?

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What are malicious agents designed by spammers and other Internet attackers to farm email addresses off websites or deposit spyware on machines?

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

A Trojan horse:

Part 1A​ ____________ is a program that seems nonthreatening but then does something completely unexpected. Part 1 A. phishing email B. virus C. spoof D. worm E. Trojan horse

A(n) Blank ______ is software written with malicious intent to cause annoyance or damage.

What is software written with malicious intent to cause annoyance or damage?

Scareware is a type of Blank ______ designed to trick victims into giving up personal information to purchase or download useless and potentially dangerous software.

A(n) Blank ______ is software written with malicious intent to cause annoyance or damage.

True or false: A worm spreads itself not only from file to file but also from computer to computer. The primary difference between a virus and a worm is that a virus must attach to something, such as an executable file, to spread.

What is software that is intended to damage or disable computers and computer systems?

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Part 1A ____________ is a program that seems nonthreatening but then does something completely unexpected. Part 1 A. phishing email B. virus C. spoof D. worm E. Trojan horse