What distinguishes spear phishing from other types of phishing?

Spear phishing is characterized by its focused approach to targeting specific individuals or groups, often leveraging personal information to make the attack more convincing. Unlike general phishing, which casts a wide net to lure victims, spear phishing is highly personalized. Attackers often research their targets to create tailored messages that appear legitimate and can exploit a victim's trust.

This targeted strategy increases the likelihood of successful deception, as the emails or messages often reference specific information that only the intended victim would recognize. This is in contrast to broader phishing attacks, which might use generic messages that lack specific details.

The other options describe elements that may be present in phishing attacks in general, such as using fake website links, but they do not specifically highlight the focused nature of spear phishing. Similarly, the idea that spear phishing is less harmful or requires direct phone contact does not effectively capture what sets this type of attack apart.