What Is the Difference Between Phishing and Spearfishing?

Phishing and spearfishing are two forms of online fraud that have been used for decades, but the similarities between them can make it difficult to understand the differences. Both involve sending emails that look like they are from legitimate sources, in order to get people to provide personal information or click on links that lead to malicious websites. While both forms of fraud can be dangerous and costly, there are some key differences between them.

Phishing is the more common form of online fraud. It involves sending out large numbers of emails in an attempt to gain access to sensitive information such as passwords and credit card details.

The emails will often use familiar logos and branding in order to appear legitimate, and may contain malicious links or attachments that can install malware or spyware onto a computer.

Spearfishing, on the other hand, is a much more Targeted form of fraud. It involves sending out emails specifically Targeting a certain individual or group, in order to gain access to confidential information or accounts.

These emails will often be personalized with specific details about the Target, making them much harder for security software to detect.

The primary difference between phishing and spearfishing is the level of sophistication involved. Phishing scams tend to be sent out en masse with little regard for who they reach, while spearfishing scams are tailor-made for a specific person or group. This makes it much harder for security software to detect spearfishing attempts as they look less like spam than phishing emails do.

Conclusion:
The primary difference between phishing and spearfishing is their level of sophistication; phishing scams are sent out en masse with little regard for who they reach, while spearfishing scams are tailor-made for a specific person or group.

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Daniel Bennet