What characterizes spear phishing?

Spear phishing is characterized by a highly targeted approach that focuses on specific individuals or organizations. Unlike general phishing attacks that seek to deceive a large number of people by using generic messages, spear phishing involves comprehensive research about the victim. The attacker often personalizes the communication based on information gleaned from social media, professional profiles, or other public data, making the message appear more legitimate and increasing the likelihood of success. This tailored strategy distinguishes spear phishing from broader phishing attempts, where the goal is to cast a wide net without any specific target in mind.