Security experts fret over "spear phishing"
Experts say criminals aiming to pry passwords and other sensitive information from organizations have started using phony e-mails to pose as top leaders of the targeted organizations.
The technique is a variation of the phishing e-mail scams that try to trick consumers into giving up bank-account information and other sensitive details that can be used in identity theft.
Alan Paller, chief executive of the nonprofit cybersecurity research firm SANS Institute, says the scam is known as "spear phishing."