Which of the following security threats occurs when a user receives an email from an illegitimate source asking for login information?

Hacking is a broader term for gaining unauthorized access to computer systems, but it doesn't specifically describe the method of using deceptive emails to solicit information from users.

Phishing is a specific type of social engineering attack that uses fraudulent communications, typically emails disguised as legitimate entities, to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information such as login credentials, passwords, or financial details. This precisely matches the description of an email from an illegitimate source asking for login information.

Spam refers to unsolicited bulk electronic messages, and while a phishing email can be a type of spam, 'phishing' is the more precise term for an email specifically designed to solicit sensitive information.

Cracking generally refers to breaking cryptographic systems, passwords, or software protections, not the act of sending deceptive emails to gather information.