The transmission of financial data, specifically credit card details, through electronic mail involves conveying sensitive numerical identifiers, expiration dates, and security codes using an internet-based messaging system. An instance of this would be typing a credit card number and its associated information into an email message and transmitting it to a recipient.
Historically, such practices may have been seen as a convenient way to share payment information. However, due to the inherent vulnerabilities in email communication, this method poses significant security risks. Interception of unencrypted email is a tangible threat, making such transmissions highly susceptible to malicious actors. Consequently, more secure alternatives have emerged, rendering this method largely obsolete and actively discouraged by security professionals.