Whaling is a type of spear phishing attack that specifically targets high-profile individuals such as CEOs, CFOs, and other executives (“big fish”).
Why it matters:
- Executive accounts have elevated access — making them extremely valuable to attackers.
- Whaling attacks often involve fake invoices, wire transfer requests, or confidential document requests.
Pro tip: Train leadership the same way you train staff — executives are actually more likely to be targeted because of their authority.
« Back to Glossary Index