Which term refers to phishing attacks tailored to a specific individual for targeted fraud?

• A. Spear-Phishing
• B. Spam
• C. Spoofing
• D. Spyware

Answer: (A)

Targeted, personalized phishing is called spear-phishing. It works by researching and using details about a specific person or organization to craft a convincing message that appears legitimate, increasing the likelihood that the recipient will take the desired action, such as clicking a link or providing credentials.

This differs from spam, which is broad and generic and sent to many people without personalization. Spoofing involves impersonating someone else in the message, like faking the sender’s address, but it’s a technique often used within spear-phishing rather than the fully targeted approach itself. Spyware is malware that secretly collects data after installation, not the deceptive outreach used to lure a specific victim.