While email phishing casts a wide net in the hopes that a few victims will take the bait, targeted attacks like spear phishing and whaling take a more refined approach. These types of phishing aren’t about reaching as many people as possible—they’re about precision, using tailored messages to deceive specific individuals or organizations.

Spear Phishing is a more sophisticated form of phishing where attackers target a specific individual or group within an organization. Unlike generic phishing emails, spear-phishing messages are highly personalized, often using the target’s name, job title, or details about their role within the company. The attacker may have done research on the individual via social media, company websites, or past data breaches to gather information that will make the email seem legitimate. These emails often appear to come from someone the target trusts, such as a colleague, boss, or a familiar service provider.

For example, an attacker might send a spear-phishing email to an employee, pretending to be the company’s IT department, asking them to reset their password. Because the email uses the employee’s name and details about their job, it seems authentic. The employee, believing the request is legitimate, follows the instructions, unknowingly providing the attacker with access to the company’s network.

Whaling is a type of spear-phishing attack that targets high-level executives, often referred to as “big fish” or “whales.” These attacks are even more meticulously crafted, as the stakes are higher. Executives typically have access to sensitive corporate information, and gaining control of their accounts can lead to significant financial losses or a security breach that compromises the entire organization. Whaling emails often appear to be urgent requests from within the organization, such as an email that looks like it’s from the CEO requesting an immediate wire transfer or sensitive data.

Whaling attacks are especially dangerous because they leverage the authority and urgency associated with top executives. Employees are less likely to question requests that appear to come directly from the C-suite, making these attacks particularly effective.

Beyond spear phishing and whaling, other forms of targeted attacks include clone phishing and CEO fraud. In clone phishing, attackers duplicate a previously sent legitimate email—such as one containing an attachment or a link—and resend it with slight modifications. The email looks identical to the original, but the attachment or link has been replaced with a malicious version. Because the recipient recognizes the message as something they’ve received before, they are more likely to trust it.

CEO fraud is another variation where attackers impersonate an executive and trick employees into carrying out unauthorized financial transactions. These emails often claim that the request must be handled confidentially and urgently, giving the recipient little time to question the legitimacy of the message.

What makes these targeted attacks so effective is their ability to exploit trust and familiarity. By carefully crafting messages that appear to come from trusted sources and using details that seem legitimate, attackers can bypass traditional security measures. These personalized attacks are more likely to succeed because they avoid the red flags typically associated with generic phishing emails.

As phishing has evolved, these targeted attacks have become more frequent and more dangerous, highlighting the importance of ongoing education and vigilance within organizations. Employees at all levels must be trained to recognize the signs of spear-phishing and whaling attacks and encouraged to verify any suspicious requests, no matter who appears to be sending them.