What is a Whaling Attack in Cybersecurity?

This report explains whaling—sophisticated, highly personalized phishing attacks targeting executives—covering how attackers research targets, craft persuasive fraudulent emails (often with malware or fake invoices), and exploit authority to trigger wire transfers or data disclosure. It includes a case study of CEO impersonation leading to a significant financial loss and recommends layered defenses: MFA, strict email and wire-transfer policies, executive-focused awareness training, continuous monitoring, phishing simulations, and clear incident response steps.