What is spear phishing?

Spear phishing is a targeted attempt to steal sensitive information from a specific individual or organization, often for malicious reasons like financial gain or corporate espionage. Unlike broader email phishing attacks that indiscriminately send out mass emails to many recipients, spear phishing tactics are personalized and crafted with specific details about the victim. This could include using the victim's name, job title, or references to their work or interests, making the attack seem more legitimate and increasing the likelihood that the target will engage with the malicious content.

The personalized nature of spear phishing makes it distinct from other types of phishing attacks. For instance, broad-based email attacks aim to reach as many recipients as possible without any personalization, whereas spear phishing zeroes in on a specific target with tactics designed to exploit individual trust and curiosity. Hence, identifying these aspects of spear phishing helps in developing strategies to recognize and mitigate such threats effectively.