Final answer:
Vishing is a type of phishing attack that uses telephone voice calls to deceive victims into revealing personal information. It is distinct from other types like spear phishing or whaling and exploits voice communication to carry out scams.
Step-by-step explanation:
The specific type of phishing attack that uses the telephone to target victims is known as vishing. This form of phishing involves voice calls where the attacker pretends to be from a legitimate company or organization and tries to trick individuals into providing sensitive information such as bank account numbers, passwords, or social security numbers. Unlike spear phishing, which targets specific individuals or organizations through email, or whaling, which goes after high-profile targets like executives, vishing uses the medium of voice communication.
It's important to always be cautious of unsolicited phone calls asking for personal information and to verify the identity of the caller before sharing any details.