Final answer:
Spear a) Phishing is the attack that targets high-ranking officials and executives by tailoring convincing emails to prompt the recipients to disclose confidential information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The attack that targets high-ranking officials and executives is Spear a) Phishing.
Phishing is a type of cyber attack where the attacker poses as a trustworthy entity to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information such as passwords or credit card numbers.
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts the victim's files and demands a ransom in exchange for decrypting them.
Malware is a broad term that refers to any malicious software, including viruses, worms, and spyware.
On the other hand, Spear Phishing is a targeted form of phishing attack where the attacker tailors their messages to specific individuals or groups, usually high-ranking executives or officials.
They gather information about the target and use it to create convincing emails that prompt the recipients to disclose confidential information.