A smear campaign is a coordinated effort to damage the reputation of an individual, organization, or group by spreading disinformation, rumors, or negative messaging. In cybersecurity, these campaigns often leverage social media, fake news websites, or email to distribute false or misleading information. The goal is to manipulate public perception, discredit targets, or influence opinions for personal, political, or financial gain. Smear campaigns can be orchestrated by competitors, hacktivists, or state-sponsored actors and may involve tactics like doxing, deepfakes, or fabricated evidence. Such attacks can have long-lasting effects on victims’ reputations and can be difficult to counteract once the false information spreads widely.