What method involves using deceptive emails that appear legitimate to obtain personal information?

The method that involves using deceptive emails that appear legitimate to obtain personal information is spear phishing. This technique specifically targets individual users or organizations by crafting personalized messages that seem to come from a trusted source. The goal is to manipulate the recipient into providing sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, or financial details, by exploiting their trust.

Spear phishing differs from broader phishing attacks, which may target large groups without specific personalization. In spear phishing, the attacker often researches the target to create convincing messages that increase the likelihood of success. This targeted approach allows for a higher success rate in deceiving the recipient compared to generic phishing methods.

Other methods, like pharming, vishing, and business email compromise, involve different techniques. Pharming redirects users from legitimate websites to fraudulent ones without the users' knowledge, while vishing uses voice phishing techniques to elicit personal information over the phone. Business email compromise focuses on social engineering to manipulate employees of a business to transfer money or sensitive data, typically using email but often without the deceptive appearance of legitimate communication that spear phishing employs. Thus, the characteristics of spear phishing make it the most accurate choice for this tactic.