Final answer:
Whale phishing targets senior executives using personalized information to trick them into revealing sensitive data or funds. Awareness and training are crucial as we become more vulnerable online through increased use of web services and communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whale phishing is a type of cyberattack where hackers use personal information to create tailored e-mails or websites that specifically target senior leaders or executives. The goal of this sophisticated form of phishing is to deceive these high-level targets into divulging sensitive company information, transferring funds, or granting access to restricted company networks for malicious purposes like data theft or financial gain.
Hackers employ a variety of methods to lure individuals into these schemes, such as the simulation of fake phishing emails for training purposes, as seen with university IT departments. These emails often contain official-sounding language or threats that can create urgency, like claiming that Social Security is in jeopardy, to manipulate the target into taking immediate, unwise action. High-profile cases like the iCloud breach demonstrate the potential scale and impact of such attacks on privacy.
Individuals are increasingly vulnerable to scams like whale phishing as online communication and data storage grow. Large-scale data breaches at major companies highlight the risk that comes with this increased online presence. Awareness of these threats and their mechanisms is vital for online security and privacy.