Targeting means directing an action at a specific object instead of treating everything the same. In cyber security, that object might be one user account, one host, one process, one file, or one network sequence. Precise targeting matters because it reduces noise, limits collateral impact, and often increases the chance of success.
Attackers use targeting in spear phishing, credential theft, and malware delivery when they focus on a named person, a vulnerable service, or a high-value system. Defenders use the same idea for allowlists, microsegmentation, endpoint isolation, and incident response that contains a threat to the affected assets only. Good targeting is usually about selecting the smallest effective scope: broad actions are easier to notice, while precise actions can be safer, stealthier, and more efficient.