__________ refers to phishing with a specific, high-value target in mind. For example, the attacker may target the CIO of a bank.

The term used to describe phishing that targets specific high-value individuals is whaling. In this context, the attacker identifies and focuses on a particular individual, such as a Chief Information Officer (CIO) or other executive, employed by an organization. This form of phishing is particularly dangerous because it is highly personalized and often utilizes information about the target to craft convincing messages or attacks. The goal is to trick the individual into providing sensitive information or to initiate a fraudulent transaction.

Spear phishing is a closely related term but generally refers to any targeted phishing attack, not just those aimed at high-level executives. While both whaling and spear phishing involve targeting individuals, whaling specifically signifies attacks on the highest-tier targets within an organization.