What are the different types of phishing attacks?

Phishing attacks can come in various forms, each with its own approach and execution. Some common types of phishing attacks include:

1. Spear Phishing: This is a targeted form of phishing where the attacker customizes the attack based on specific information about the target. It often involves researching the target to make the phishing attempt more believable.

2. Pharming: In this type of attack, attackers redirect users from a legitimate website to a fake one without the user’s knowledge. This can happen due to changes in the DNS settings or malware on the computer.

3. Whaling: Also known as CEO fraud, this type of phishing targets high-ranking individuals within an organization to trick them into revealing confidential information or initiating a wire transfer.

4. Clone Phishing: Attackers create a replica of a legitimate email or website and send it to the target, hoping to trick them into providing sensitive information.

5. Vishing: This involves using a phone call to deceive individuals into providing personal information like passwords or credit card details.

6. Smishing: Similar to phishing, smishing involves using SMS or text messages to deceive individuals into clicking on malicious links or providing personal information.

These types of phishing attacks differ in their methods of deception and delivery, but they all aim to trick individuals into giving away sensitive information or performing actions that benefit the attackers.