Phishing is best mitigated by which of the following?

User awareness is the most effective way to mitigate phishing attacks. Phishing relies heavily on deceiving individuals into divulging sensitive information, such as passwords or personal details, often through fraudulent emails or messages that appear legitimate. Educating users about the tactics employed by attackers—including recognizing suspicious emails, verifying links before clicking, and understanding the implications of sharing sensitive information—empowers them to identify and avoid potential phishing attempts actively.

While security monitoring software, encryption, and two-factor authentication are beneficial security measures, they do not specifically address the core issue of phishing. Security monitoring software may help detect phishing attempts after they occur, but it does not prevent users from falling victim to such attacks. Encryption protects data in transit or at rest but does not prevent users from interacting with phishing attempts. Two-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security that can help protect accounts even if credentials are compromised, but it does not train users to recognize phishing attacks. Thus, user awareness is foundational in reducing the success rate of phishing schemes.