Phishing scams are the most common origin of data breaches. Threat actors convince their victims to send money or private information, usually spurred by false promises, threats, and forming a more personal relationship.
A major targeted and dangerous version of phishing is spear-phishing. Unlike generic phishing, which casts a wide net, spear-phishing targets specific individuals by using personal details to make scam messages more believable. With the advent of AI, these attacks have become even more efficient and dangerous.