Increased Phishing Attempts Target Microsoft and Facebook 

Increased Phishing Attempts Target Microsoft and Facebook

While cyberattacks are an ever-present threat in today’s digital world, in 2020, they rose to unprecedented levels. In fact, more and more cyberattacks are occurring on highly frequented sites and platforms — in 2020, Microsoft was the largest target for hacker impersonations. To make matters worse, the cybercrime industry is projected to cost the global economy more than $6 trillion in 2021 alone. This article will provide an in-depth look at the prevalence of phishing attempts in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, on sites that you may be used on a daily basis.

More Remote Employees, More Cloud Impersonations

The spread of COVID-19 has a direct correlation to the increase in cybercrime that companies like Microsoft, Facebook, and DHL continue to experience into 2021. Because so many businesses were forced to manage their teams remotely, hackers suddenly had access to more online targets than ever before. Moreover, most remote employees do not enjoy the same level of cybersecurity at home that on-site businesses do.

The transition to remote working led businesses to transfer operations to the cloud at a rapid pace. With more and more employees accessing company data on the cloud, hackers concentrated their efforts into cloud services, the most impersonated industry in 2020.

Cyberattacks Cross Industry Borders

Unfortunately, Microsoft has been a highly prominent target for phishing attempts, security attacks and other cyber threats in recent years. In 2020, the company received 19% of all phishing attempts globally. Not only does this trend put users at risk, it also makes Microsoft a more vulnerable target for hackers who want to take advantage of their existing vulnerabilities.

A closer look at this cybercrime trend reveals that 44% of all phishing attacks take the form of an email, while slightly fewer (43%) are delivered over websites and 12% over mobile devices. Over these three platforms respectively, WhatsApp, PayPal and Facebook were the top recipients of phishing attacks.

Continued Malware Threats

It’s no surprise that the increase in phishing attempts (particularly over email) encourages more cybercrime and hacking activity across a wide range of industries. Various types of malware, such as viruses and ransomware, can be catastrophic for businesses of all sizes, even for prominent companies like Microsoft and Facebook. In fact, a recent study showed that the average cost of recovery from a ransomware attack is currently $84,000 for businesses.

Such astounding financial consequences highlight the need for leaders to stay aware of the many cybersecurity threats that are lurking on the Internet today. While companies like Microsoft, Facebook and Whatsapp may be hackers’ largest targets now, smaller businesses are certainly not immune to the serious damage that cybercrime can cause.

Partner With OutSource IT Solutions to Stay Secure

With more and more teams working remotely, it’s vital that your team learns to identify and avoid phishing attempts, false networks, malicious pop-up ads and more. With more than 20 years’ experience serving the Chicagoland area, OutSource IT Solutions Group is eager to help your business navigate cybersecurity like a pro.

To learn more about staying secure while managing remote teams, simply connect with our friendly professionals by calling (855) 651-1418 or by filling out this quick contact form today.

Related Posts

Microsoft Copilot is designed to enhance productivity by integrating artificial intelligence...
The average employee spends 57% of their work time using office...
Outsource Solutions Group announced today that CRN®, a brand of The Channel...

Join Our Newsletter & Learn

Get our latest content delivered to your inbox.

Join Our Newsletter

Search