Whaling is a type of cyber attack that targets high-level executives, such as CEOs, CFOs, and Presidents. The term “whaling” is used because these executives are seen as the “big fish” in an organization, and the attacker wants to “catch” them.
Whaling attacks are typically carried out through phishing emails that appear to come from a trusted source, such as a vendor or government agency. The emails may contain malicious attachments or links that, if opened, can install malware or steal sensitive information.
The goal of a whaling attack is to gain access to sensitive information, such as financial data or trade secrets, or to compromise the target’s email or network in order to launch further attacks.
To prevent whaling attacks, organizations should educate their employees about the dangers of phishing and the importance of verifying the identity of individuals who send emails or request sensitive information. Additionally, organizations should implement strong email filtering and anti-malware technologies, as well as regularly back up important data to ensure that it can be recovered in the event of a successful attack.