what type of cyberattack involves customizing a phishing message for a specific person

The cyberattack is called spear phishing. It’s a targeted form of phishing where the attacker customizes the message for a specific person to make it seem more trustworthy.

Quick answer

• Phishing = broad, generic scam messages.
• Spear phishing = personalized phishing aimed at one person or a small group.

• It often uses details like a name, job title, or recent activity to increase the chance of deception.

Why it matters

A customized message is much harder to spot because it looks relevant and familiar. That’s what makes spear phishing more dangerous than ordinary mass phishing.

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