Which type of attack leverages social engineering in voice communication?

Vishing is a type of attack that specifically leverages social engineering techniques over voice communication, typically using phone calls. Attackers might impersonate legitimate entities, such as banks or technical support, to manipulate individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal identification. The effectiveness of vishing lies in its human element, where attackers exploit trust and urgency during a conversation, making it easier to deceive victims compared to phishing tactics utilized through email or text.

In this context, phishing refers to deceptive attempts usually conducted via email, while smishing involves similar tactics but is carried out through SMS (text messages). Spamming is not an attack in itself but refers to the unsolicited sending of messages, often in bulk, without the intent of social manipulation. Understanding these distinctions highlights the unique nature of vishing as it combines social engineering and voice communication to commit fraud.