Spear phishing is one of the most sophisticated and dangerous threats in the cybersecurity world. Spear phishing is more sophisticated and targeted than other types. In this article, we will cover what spear phishing is, how it works, and how you can protect yourself from this type of attack.
What is Spear Phishing?
Spear phishing is a very dangerous threat to cybersecurity. These types of attacks are specific to the target person. Attackers choose a specific target based on personal information to gain the trust of the target person. Therefore, spear phishing is different from more general and widespread phishing attacks.
The target in these types of attacks often has information about the victim’s workplace or personal life. Attackers use this information to prepare fake emails and use them to deceive the victim more easily. They act as a sender that the victim trusts. This particular approach distinguishes spear phishing from other types of phishing.
How Does Spear Phishing Work?
Spear phishing attacks are carried out using a spoofed email or spoofed website that resembles a source the victim trusts. Attackers may impersonate a co-worker, senior manager, or a service provider whom the victim trusts. The emails are often of the type that forces the victim to make a quick reaction. This is designed to directly create a situation of urgency or danger.
For spear phishing attacks to be successful, attackers often need to gain the victim’s trust. At this point, they use the information they obtain from social media and other open sources. For example, a credible profile is required to gain victims’ trust. Then, they try to obtain the sensitive information of the victims through special fake e-mails or messages. They usually do this by convincing them to download malicious software (Malware).
Differences Between Spear Phishing and Phishing
Spear phishing is different from phishing attacks. Here, targets are more specifically selected and attacks are more personal. Phishing attacks are generally aimed at a more general and widespread audience. In spear phishing, selecting targets based on personal information makes attacks more convincing and effective. For this reason, spear phishing is considered more dangerous than other types of phishing.
The target in spear phishing attacks often has information about the victim’s workplace or personal life. Attackers can more easily deceive their victims by preparing fake e-mails based on this information. At this point, they act as a trusted sender. In short, spear phishing attacks are distinguished from other types by personalized features.