spear phishing

noun

variants or less commonly spear-phishing

ˈspir-ˌfi-shiŋ 

: a targeted attempt to trick a specific person into revealing personal or confidential information that can then be used illicitly

In spear phishing, hackers first identify a target. Unlike basic phishing, which casts a wide net, spear phishing focuses on a specific person or group.

—eMazzanti Technologies

The hyper-personalized emails known as spear-phishing can use information from your LinkedIn profile, including your connections.

—Leslie Collins

spear-phishing emails

Examples of spear phishing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The malicious version came through a spear phishing email sent to the developers Google listed for the Cyberhaven extension on Christmas Eve. —Ars Technica, 3 Jan. 2025

More travelers mean an influx of personal data to protect from identity theft, resale and spear phishing. —Kevin Pierce, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

In contrast, spear phishing is a more targeted approach that focuses on specific individuals—often executives. —Dr. Fene Osakwe, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Researchers found that spear phishing accounted for less than 0.1% of the emails but led to 66% of successful breaches. —Zak Doffman, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

With that information, the scammers can create more believable scenarios for spear phishing or vishing attacks. —Vytautas Kaziukonis, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

The three hackers, all of whom have ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, allegedly gained access to the accounts of campaign officials using social engineering and spear phishing, a tactic that attempts to trick victims into disclosing sensitive information. —Emma Roth, The Verge, 27 Sep. 2024

The hackers have used various tactics including spear phishing. —Lora Kolodny,jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2024

Beyond fake news, Microsoft’s report says in June, a group run by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted an official on a presidential campaign with a spear phishing email and tried to login to a former candidate’s account. —Matt Galka, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

respelling of spearfishing (gerund of spearfish entry 2), after phishing

First Known Use

2004, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for spear phishing

• dishing
• fishing
• swishing
• wishing
• overfishing