Whaling

Whaling, also known as spear-phishing or CEO fraud, is a type of cyber attack that targets high-profile individuals within an organization, such as top-level executives or high-ranking officials. Unlike traditional phishing attacks that cast a wide net in hopes of fooling anyone who takes the bait, whaling is a more targeted and sophisticated approach.

In a whaling attack, cyber criminals carefully research and gather information about their chosen targets to craft a tailored and convincing phishing email. These emails typically appear legitimate, often mimicking official communication from trusted sources or utilizing social engineering techniques to trick the recipient into taking action. Whaling attacks often aim to deceive the target into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, financial details, or login credentials, or to persuade them to transfer money or authorize fraudulent transactions. Due to the high-profile nature of the individuals targeted, the potential impact of a successful whaling attack can be significant, both financially and reputationally, making it a lucrative choice for cybercriminals.