In a recent report released by Kaspersky, it has been revealed that there has been a staggering 40% increase in phishing attacks in 2023 compared to the previous year
In a recent report released by Kaspersky, it has been revealed that there has been a staggering 40% increase in phishing attacks in 2023 compared to the previous year. The cybersecurity company’s anti-phishing system thwarted over 709 million attempts to access phishing and scam websites throughout the year.
Messaging apps, artificial intelligence platforms, social media services, and cryptocurrency exchanges emerged as the primary targets for threat actors seeking to scam users. Kaspersky’s annual analysis of the spam and phishing threat landscape highlighted a persistent trend of escalating phishing attacks, with a significant surge observed in May and June, coinciding with the onset of the holiday season.
The holiday period often sees scammers leveraging travel-related scams, such as counterfeit airline tickets and enticing hotel deals, to deceive unsuspecting users. Furthermore, the integration of technologies featuring built-in GPT chats has provided scammers with new avenues to exploit, although they continue to rely on traditional tactics, such as counterfeit websites offering access to high-profile releases and events.
Kaspersky experts also noted a notable increase in attacks spread via messaging platforms, with 62,127 attempts to redirect users via phishing and scam links on Telegram alone, representing a 22% increase from the previous year.
Usman Qureshi, Country Representative for Pakistan at Kaspersky, emphasized the importance of vigilance and skepticism in the face of evolving phishing threats. He urged users to exercise caution, verify before clicking on links, and protect their digital identities.
To mitigate the risk of falling victim to phishing-based scams, Kaspersky advises users to only open emails and click on links from trusted sources. Additionally, they recommend checking the spelling of website URLs to identify potential phishing pages and utilizing proven security solutions like Kaspersky Premium when browsing the web, as these solutions are capable of detecting and blocking spam and phishing campaigns.
As phishing attacks continue to evolve and proliferate, staying informed and implementing robust cybersecurity measures remains crucial in safeguarding against online threats.
For further insights into the phishing threat landscape, individuals are encouraged to visit Securelist.com.