What Is a Whaling Attack? How Cybercriminals Target CEOs?
What Is a Whaling Attack? How Cybercriminals Target CEOs?
Last Updated: October 27, 2025
Do you know, an Australian hedge fund lost $8 million to a cyber scam. The attackers didn’t use complex malware. They simply tricked the executives with a fake email. That’s the power of a whaling attack.
Whaling attacks are not your usual phishing scams. These are highly targeted attacks where the cybercriminals attack the biggest players in a company CEOs, CFOs, and other top executives. When cybercriminals go after these big fish, the damage can be huge both financially and reputationally.
In this blog we will talk about what a whaling attack is, how it works and how you can protect yourself from it.
What is a Whaling Attack?
A whaling attack is a specific type of phishing scam where cybercriminals zero in on high-profile individuals, such as CEOs, CFOs, or other C-suite executives. Unlike generic phishing attempts that cast a wide net via mass emails, whaling is more targeted and personalized.
These scams use highly personalized messages that often look like they come from trusted contacts. The goal is to trick the victim into taking an action like transferring money, sharing confidential data, or clicking a harmful link.
Attack Type
Who It Targets
Level of Personalization
Common Tactics Used
Main Goal
Phishing
General public or random users
Very low
Generic mass emails with fake links or attachments
Steal credentials or infect devices
Spear Phishing
Specific individuals or teams
Moderate
Personalized emails based on limited research
Gain access to systems or sensitive info
Whaling
Top executives (CEO, CFO, etc.)
Very high
Highly customized emails, urgent tone, formal language
How Cybercriminals Execute a Whaling Attack: Common Tactics?
Whaling attacks are not random. Cybercriminals follow a planned and careful process to trick executives. Here’s how they usually do it:
1. They Start with Deep Research
Attackers first gather all the information they can. They look into:
The target’s job role and responsibilities
Who reports to whom in the company
Current business deals or projects
How the executive writes and communicates
This research helps them craft a fake message that looks real, urgent, and trustworthy.
2. They Use Smart Impersonation Tricks
Once they know the target well, they start pretending to be someone trusted. They use techniques like:
Email Spoofing: Making an email look like it’s coming from the CEO or a known contact (e.g., using ceo.name@company.co instead of company.com)
Domain Spoofing or Typosquatting: Buying similar domain names to trick people (e.g., companny.com instead of company.com)
Hacked Accounts: Sometimes, they get into the real CEO’s email account and send fake messages directly
Deepfakes (New Threat): Some attackers now use AI to create fake audio or video messages that sound and look like the executive
Tip: Using cybersecurity software like email threat protection, AI-driven phishing detection, and domain monitoring tools can detect these impersonation attempts before they reach executives.
How to Protect Your Organization from Whaling Attacks?
You can’t stop hackers from trying, but you can make it much harder for them to succeed. Here are the most effective ways to protect your executives and your business:
Train Everyone: Every employee, including top executives, should know how to spot a fake email. Teach them to look for signs like unusual email addresses, urgent tone, or unexpected requests. Always verify such messages through a phone call or direct confirmation. Regular training and phishing simulations help build awareness and make people think twice before clicking.
Use Strong Technical Defenses: Technical tools can block many threats before they reach people. Set up email security protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to stop fake emails. Use filters that warn when messages come from outside the company. Also, enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) and strong password policies to keep executive accounts safe from hackers.
Set Clear Policies and Procedures: Have strict rules for handling financial requests or sensitive data. For example, large money transfers should always require a second approval and direct confirmation. Limit who can access important information, and make sure everyone knows the steps to follow if a whaling attempt happens. A strong plan helps teams act fast and reduce damage.
Improve Social Media Hygiene: Hackers often use public info to plan attacks. Encourage executives to be careful about what they post online. Avoid sharing travel plans, business updates, or personal details on LinkedIn or social media. Review and update privacy settings regularly. Even a simple post can give attackers the clues they need to write a convincing scam email.
What to Do If You Suspect or Fall Victim to a Whaling Attack?
If you ever fall victim to the whaling attack, worry not! Follow these steps to minimize the damage:
Act Immediately: If you suspect a whaling email, don’t reply or click on any links. Report it to your IT or security team right away. If money has already been transferred or sensitive data shared, contact your bank and local cybercrime authorities immediately. Quick action can reduce damage and improve your chances of recovery.
Contain the Threat and Investigate: Once reported, your IT team should isolate any affected systems or accounts to stop further harm. Then, begin a full investigation to find out how the attack happened. Look at email headers, login logs, and access records. This helps identify weaknesses in your system and prevents similar attacks in the future.
Control the Damage and Communicate: Inform all necessary stakeholders, including top management, legal teams, and if needed your customers. Transparency builds trust. Update your security protocols based on what went wrong and consider bringing in cybersecurity experts for a full review. The goal is to close gaps, rebuild trust, and avoid future attacks.
Conclusion
Whaling attacks are one of the most dangerous cyber threats facing businesses today. Cybercriminals use smart tricks to target the people with the most power your executives. But with the right mix of awareness, strong security tools, and clear company policies, you can stay one step ahead. Stay alert, train your team, and protect your top leadership.
Published On: October 27, 2025
Shubham Roy
Shubham Roy is an experienced writer with a strong Technical and Business background. With over three years of experience as a content writer, he has honed his skills in various domains, including technical writing, business, software, Travel, Food and finance. His passion for creating engaging and informative content has earned him recognition in the industry. When he's not busy crafting articles, Shubham enjoys reading, exploring new technologies, and staying updated with the latest trends in the world of business and finance.
