Tech
2024 Identity Theft Fraud Report: The Most Common Threats and Measures
The 2024 Identity Theft Fraud Report details the most common threats and ways to protect against these dangers. Learn how frauds occur and strengthen your defenses.
Check Point Research (CPR) 2024 Phishing Scams Report
Check Point Research (CPR) has published a new study examining the biggest phishing scams of the second quarter of 2024. This report provides significant insights into the nature of cyber threats. The analysis shows that Microsoft is among the most impersonated brands by scammers; the brand’s name appears in 57% of scam messages. Apple follows in second place with 10%, while new names like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Adidas also make the list, with these brands accounting for a total of 2.3% of the threats.
Fraudulent activities targeting users, such as sensitive information, financial data, and personal details, often make critical service providers popular targets. Cybercriminals often masquerade as Microsoft to create a sense of threat among users. These threats typically require the download of fake antivirus software to your device. Users are asked to follow links in scam messages or open attachments.
Additionally, fake emails often contain “Message Delivery Failure” notifications, which are filled with links that redirect users to a fake website very similar to the Outlook login page. Scammers attempt to get users to log in on this fake page to steal their credentials.
Similarly, Apple impersonators frequently send links that direct users to fake login pages with claims that a user’s Apple ID has been locked or compromised. Furthermore, major brands and retail stores employ various methods to redirect customers to fake purchase sites and steal payment information.
Phishing attacks are typically designed to pressure users into acting quickly, prompting them to follow instructions. Such attacks encourage users to enter their account details by redirecting them to a fake site.
Check Point Software Data Group Manager Omer Dembinsky warns, “Phishing attacks continue to be one of the most common cyber threats and often serve as entry points for much larger-scale campaigns in a supply chain.” Dembinsky advises users to avoid clicking on unsolicited links, carefully verify email addresses, and use Multi-Factor Authentication methods.