1 min read

Top 10 Brands That Phishing Attackers Use to Scam Users

Scammers delight in impersonating government agencies and well-known brands to lure email recipients into giving up their personal information. That information is then either exploited directly or sold to the highest bidder on the Dark Web.

Have you ever wondered which agencies, companies or brands are the most imitated by these attackers?

Whether you have or not it should come as no surprise that someone is tracking that.  Security firm Checkpoint is tracking it to be precise.

Quite often Microsoft tops the list but this year they’ve been dethroned by shipping company DHL. That may not be surprising given the realities of the pandemic and the rise in popularity of online shopping.

Here is the list of the top ten for this year from their report:

  1. DHL (impersonated in 23 percent of all phishing attacks, globally)
  2. Microsoft (20 percent)
  3. WhatsApp (11 percent)
  4. Google (10 percent)
  5. LinkedIn (8 percent)
  6. Amazon (4 percent)
  7. FedEx (3 percent)
  8. Roblox (3 percent)
  9. Paypal (2 percent)
  10. Apple (2 percent)

The specific lure used in each of these cases varies wildly.  For instance, when a scammer spoofs a shipping company the email is typically some variation of “we’re trying to deliver a package to you but are having problems, press this button for more information.”

While PayPal scams typically go the route of “Your account has been temporarily suspended.  Please click here to verify your information.”

Microsoft and Google are commonly spoofed in various software giveaway schemes. Or in the case of Google some variation of “click here to claim your free Chromebook.”

Now that you are armed with a list of the most often imitated brands you at least have a list of things to be on the lookout for.  The best defense is vigilance just like always.  If it sounds too good to be true it probably is and don’t ever click on embedded links even if you think you know and trust the sender.

Used with permission from Article Aggregator

Why Your Business Should Use a Password Manager

To the average person, it’s too easy to forget a password and leave themselves vulnerable to account lockout, which can end up being a real hassle....

Read More

AirPods Pro Repair Program Extended For Static Sound Problems

Are you an AirPods Pro owner? Do yours crackle and hiss? If you answered yes to both of those questions be aware that Apple has recently extended the...

Read More
Why Legal Practices Need San Jose IT Support & Managed Services

Why Legal Practices Need San Jose IT Support & Managed Services

Managed IT is crucial for law firms trying to deal with the complexities of managing technology. These services include a variety of solutions aimed...

Read More

Mac Malware is Becoming a Bigger Threat for Users

In late 2020 a new strain of malware called UpdateAgent appeared and began infecting Mac users.

Read More

Why Your Law Firm Needs Managed IT & Data Backups in Portland OR

Data is the lifeblood of every law firm. From client information and case files to important legal documents and communications, the loss of this...

Read More

Law Firm IT vs. Cyber Threats and Data Vulnerabilities

Law firms are constantly facing a critical clash between their IT infrastructure and the ever-evolving threats posed by cyber-attacks and data...

Read More