Security experts saw an uptick in malware in the first three summer months due to increased mobile device and computer activity. From May to July, malware claimed the spotlight, making up 58% of all reported cyber threats. The primary entry point for malware was phishing at almost 25%, followed by adware at 8%. Users tend to be online looking for sales, vacation opportunities, and back-to-school shopping, which all have potential phishing opportunities attached to them.
This research comes behind Q1 research showing criminals adapting their threats to the security landscape. The study shows information technology organizations overtook financial institutions for the number one targeted category of malicious emails. The change reflects the dedication of financial institutions to invest in cyber security to defend against phishing attacks and the talent shortage in information technology that has dominated security news.
Additionally, in Q2, the study found that 58% of the malicious emails relied on deceptive content, while 42% included harmful links. This emphasis on malicious content clarifies the prevalence of business email compromise (BEC) scams, comprising 48% of scam emails in the same quarter. BEC scams are notorious for favoring content-based deception over links or attachments in their fraudulent email schemes.
The report also highlighted a change in the type of attack vector criminals use. Malicious emails used QR codes as a primary attack method to link users to a phishing page. The use of QR codes is a response to users’ education on traditional phishing attack vectors and a trust of QR codes through restaurant and public use. QR codes also introduce a second device to the attack if users access the link with a mobile phone.
It’s essential to keep your employees updated on the most common attack vectors we are seeing in the wild. Your employees are your first line of defense against security threats. Continuous education on cybersecurity trends helps to keep those defenses strong.
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