In recent times, businesses have worked hard to teach their employees how to spot tricky emails that try to steal important information, known as phishing attempts. Despite these efforts, it looks like the bad guys are getting better at fooling people. A report from Netskope, a company that helps keep computers and data safe, found that more people are clicking on dangerous links than ever before. In fact, the number of clicks on these links in 2024 was three times higher than the year before. This is a worrying trend since it means that despite awareness training, phishing attacks are still a significant threat.
Phishing doesn’t just happen through emails. It turns out that many of these bad clicks come from regular internet searches. Attackers are getting pretty clever with placing harmful ads or using tricks to get their dangerous links to show up at the top of search results. They also spread these links on shopping, tech, business, and entertainment websites. They might put spam in comment sections or pay for ads that pop up on these sites, which is called malvertising. Sometimes they even hack into the websites and put fake pop-ups.
Netskope’s experts say that the variety of ways people end up on these phishing sites shows that the attackers are really good at tricking them. People might be careful with emails, but they’re more likely to trust links from search results. The attackers’ main targets? Login details for online applications, with Microsoft 365 being hit the most.
Things are getting even trickier with the help of advanced computer programs called Large Language Models (LLMs). These help attackers create more convincing fake messages that are hard to spot as scams. They even build special chatbots to write better bait for these phishing traps.
What’s more, cybercriminals are using things called “deepfakes” – super realistic fake videos or audio – to trick companies. Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated with their methods, and this has become a growing issue for many businesses.
It’s clear that keeping data safe is getting harder. With the knowledge that phishing attacks are becoming more sophisticated and deceptive, it’s essential for businesses to stay ahead of the curve in cybersecurity. This is where Diversified Outlook Group comes in. With a proactive approach to recognizing and defending against evolving cyber threats, Diversified Outlook Group can provide the advanced protection and training needed to keep your business safe. If you’re concerned about phishing and how to better protect your company, reach out to us at support@diversifiedoutlookgroup.com, and let’s work together to strengthen your defenses against these sneakier phishing attacks.
For more information on the phishing click rates, visit www.csoonline.com/article/3802315/phishing-klickrate-massiv-gestiegen.html.