what is spear phishing

Spear phishing is a type of phishing attack that targets specific individuals or groups within an organization. It is a malicious tactic that uses emails, social engineering, and other methods to acquire sensitive information or access to a computer system by sending counterfeit messages that appear to be legitimate. Unlike phishing, which is a broad and automated attack, spear phishing is highly targeted and requires advanced hacking techniques and a great amount of research on the targets. The goal of spear phishing is to steal sensitive information such as login credentials or infect the targets’ device with malware. The personalized nature of spear phishing attacks is what makes them dangerous and easy to fall for. Spear phishing emails are designed to convince the user to open a malicious link or attachment, exposing the target to malicious software. These messages are delivered via email and are designed to convince the user to open a malicious link or attachment, exposing the target to malicious software.