Difference Between Phishing and Pharming? A phishing email looks legitimate from a trusted company, but it’s trying to trick you into giving away sensitive information. In contrast, spear phishing is a targeted attack where hackers send out malicious emails aimed explicitly at a user or group of people. These emails may contain links or attachments that appear to come from a trusted source. If you click on them, you could infect yourself with malware or handing over valuable information.