Evolution of Phishing Techniques

Phishing has evolved dramatically from the obvious scams of the early internet:

Generation 1 - Spray and Pray (1990s-2000s): Mass emails with obvious grammatical errors, unlikely scenarios, and clear red flags. These relied on volume, hoping to catch a few victims among millions of recipients.

Generation 2 - Branded Phishing (2000s-2010s): More sophisticated attempts mimicking major brands like banks and social media platforms. Better design and language, but still relatively generic.

Generation 3 - Spear Phishing (2010s-Present): Highly targeted attacks using personal information gathered from social media and data breaches. Messages are customized to specific individuals or organizations.

Generation 4 - AI-Enhanced Phishing (Present-Future): Machine learning creates convincing, personalized messages at scale. Deep fakes and voice synthesis add new dimensions to email-based attacks.