In 2024, Google, Facebook e Amazon have become the main companies hit by attacks phishingaccording to a study by Kaspersky which analyzed 25 large global brands.
Phishing attempts have increased significantly, reaching nearly 26 million in the first half of the year, a 40% increase over the same period in 2023. Cybercriminals are primarily looking for credentials, such as usernames and passwords, and are leveraging high-profile brands to trick users.
Google tops the list with over 4 million attempts blocked by Kaspersky, tripling the number of attacks it received from the previous year, a 243% increase. Facebook is in second place with 3.7 million attempts, followed by Amazon with nearly 3 million. Other brands affected include Microsoft, DHL, PayPal, Mastercard, Apple, Netflix, and Instagram, which round out the top ten most targeted brands.
In the case of Mastercard, phishing attempts increased by 210%, and other companies such as Netflix and Facebook also saw a doubling of phishing attempts.
Kaspersky’s report highlights that cybercriminals are stepping up their efforts to access personal accounts and financial data, using fake resources that mimic these big brands.
In addition to the tech giants, other brands have seen a significant increase in phishing attacks, such as HSBC, which saw an eight-fold increase in attempts to 240,000, and eBay, which saw a three-fold increase to more than 300,000 attacks. Airbnb, American Express, and LinkedIn also saw increases of 174%, 137%, and 122%, respectively.
Faced with this growing threat, Kaspersky recommends that businesses monitor their online presence, educate customers about the risks and how to identify fraudulent emails or sites, and be prepared to report suspicious activity and fraudulent domains to the relevant authorities. It also stresses the importance of adopting cybersecurity solutions to mitigate risks and protect both brands and users from these types of threats.