TA0043 · RECONNAISSANCE
Phishing for Information
Messages designed to elicit information rather than deliver a payload — vendor verification, IT survey, HR pretext.
Detect it with
User reports; mail gateway rules for newly registered lookalike domains and reply-to mismatches.
Why it matters on shift
Phishing for Information is one of the concrete ways adversaries achieve reconnaissance. Recognising it in telemetry lets you name the technique in your ticket and pivot to what came before and after.
What to look for next
After reconnaissance, the next tactic is usually Resource Development. Search your telemetry for the transition before closing the ticket.
4 sub-techniques
How it shows up in practice
- T1598.001
Spearphishing Service
Adversaries may send spearphishing messages via third-party services to elicit sensitive information that can be used during targeting.
- T1598.002
Spearphishing Attachment
Adversaries may send spearphishing messages with a malicious attachment to elicit sensitive information that can be used during targeting.
- T1598.003
Spearphishing Link
Adversaries may send spearphishing messages with a malicious link to elicit sensitive information that can be used during targeting.
- T1598.004
Spearphishing Voice
Adversaries may use voice communications to elicit sensitive information that can be used during targeting. Spearphishing for information is an attempt to trick targets into divulging information, frequently credentials or other actionable information.
Kill-chain context