What Is Spear Phishing?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Example 1:

The attacker is encouraging the target to sign an “updated employee handbook

” This is an example of a spear phishing email where the attacker is pretending to work in HR and is encouraging the target to sign a new employee handbook.

What is difference between phishing and spear phishing?

The difference between them is primarily

a matter of targeting

. Phishing emails are sent to very large numbers of recipients, more or less at random, with the expectation that only a small percentage will respond. … Spear phishing emails are carefully designed to get a single recipient to respond.

What is an example of spear phishing?

Example 1:

The attacker is encouraging the target to sign an “updated employee handbook

” This is an example of a spear phishing email where the attacker is pretending to work in HR and is encouraging the target to sign a new employee handbook.

What is a spear phishing attack?

Spear phishing is

an email or electronic communications scam targeted towards a specific individual, organization or business

. Although often intended to steal data for malicious purposes, cybercriminals may also intend to install malware on a targeted user’s computer.

What are 3 types of spear phishing emails?

  • Email phishing. Most phishing attacks are sent by email. …
  • Whaling. Whaling attacks are even more targeted, taking aim at senior executives. …
  • Smishing and vishing. …
  • Angler phishing. …
  • Your employees are your last line of defence.

What are characteristics of spear phishing?

Spear-phishing attacks

target a specific victim

, and messages are modified to specifically address that victim, purportedly coming from an entity that they are familiar with and containing personal information. Spear-phishing requires more thought and time to achieve than phishing.

What helps protect from Spear?

  • Keep your systems up-to-date with the latest security patches. …
  • Encrypt any sensitive company information you have. …
  • Use DMARC technology. …
  • Implement multi-factor authentication wherever possible. …
  • Make cybersecurity a company focus.

Why is spear phishing harmful?

Why Is Spear Phishing So Dangerous?

Once scammers convince their target that they are trustworthy

, they may gain access to sensitive company data, banking or credit card information, and wire transfers. This can cause wide-ranging fraud and system security infiltration.

What are two different types of phishing methods?

  • Spear Phishing.
  • Whaling.
  • Vishing.
  • Email Phishing.

What is Blast phishing?

Spam disguised as convincing emails from LinkedIn, Facebook, and other trusted entities were one targeted operation

aimed at stealing online financial credentials

, say Trend Micro researchers.

What makes an email suspicious?

The email is poorly written

You can often tell if an email is a scam

if it contains poor spelling and grammar

. Many people will tell you that such errors are part of a ‘filtering system’ in which cyber criminals target only the most gullible people.

Is tailgating spear phishing?

Like a phishing attack including spear-phishing or whaling, it is an information security confidence trick designed to fool people with authorisation to allow those who have no authorisation to gain access to restricted areas and information.

What are the different types of phishing attacks?

  • Email phishing. Also called “deception phishing,” email phishing is one of the most well-known attack types. …
  • HTTPS phishing. …
  • Spear phishing. …
  • Whaling/CEO fraud. …
  • Vishing. …
  • Smishing. …
  • Angler phishing. …
  • Pharming.

What are examples of phishing?

  • Phishing Email. Phishing emails still comprise a large portion of the world’s yearly slate of devastating data breaches. …
  • Spear Phishing. …
  • Link Manipulation. …
  • Fake Websites. …
  • CEO Fraud. …
  • Content Injection. …
  • Session Hijacking. …
  • Malware.

What is the most common type of phishing?

1.

Email Phishing

. Arguably the most common type of phishing, this method often involves a “spray and pray” technique in which hackers impersonate a legitimate identity or organization and send mass emails to as many addresses as they can obtain.

What are some red flags of phishing?

  • Sense of urgency or threatening language.
  • Unfamiliar or unusual senders or recipients.
  • Spelling or grammar errors.
  • Request for money or personal information.
  • Call to action, such as clicking a link or downloading an attachment.
Charlene Dyck
Author
Charlene Dyck
Charlene is a software developer and technology expert with a degree in computer science. She has worked for major tech companies and has a keen understanding of how computers and electronics work. Sarah is also an advocate for digital privacy and security.