Phishing primarily involves which type of online crime?

Phishing primarily involves online identity theft because its main goal is to deceive individuals into providing sensitive personal information, such as usernames, passwords, and financial information. This deception is often carried out via fraudulent emails, messages, or websites that appear legitimate but are designed to trick users into entering their data. Once the attackers obtain this information, they can use it to impersonate the victim and access various accounts, leading to identity theft.

While other options like malware distribution and spear phishing are related to phishing activities, they do not capture the essence of what phishing predominantly seeks to achieve. Malware distribution may be a tactic used in conjunction with phishing, whereas spear phishing refers to a more targeted form of phishing aimed at specific individuals or organizations. However, the overarching theme of phishing is about stealing personal identity information.