Which security issue involves a user clicking a hyperlink that leads to malware?

Which security issue involves a user clicking a hyperlink that leads to malware?

• A. Clickjacking
• B. Phishing
• C. Clickbait
• D. Dictionary Attack

Answer: (A)

The situation described is best understood as phishing. It relies on social engineering to lure you into clicking a link that appears legitimate but actually directs you to a site hosting malware or initiates a malicious download. The attacker’s goal is to trick you into taking an action—clicking the hyperlink—that compromises your device or steals information. This is different from clickjacking, which hides or overlays elements to trick you into clicking something you didn’t intend, potentially causing actions on a site rather than delivering malware through a link itself. Clickbait is about enticing headlines to generate clicks, not specifically delivering malware. A dictionary attack targets passwords by guessing words. So the malicious link as a lure fits phishing.

The situation described is best understood as phishing. It relies on social engineering to lure you into clicking a link that appears legitimate but actually directs you to a site hosting malware or initiates a malicious download. The attacker’s goal is to trick you into taking an action—clicking the hyperlink—that compromises your device or steals information. This is different from clickjacking, which hides or overlays elements to trick you into clicking something you didn’t intend, potentially causing actions on a site rather than delivering malware through a link itself. Clickbait is about enticing headlines to generate clicks, not specifically delivering malware. A dictionary attack targets passwords by guessing words. So the malicious link as a lure fits phishing.