In 2023, Trend Micro observed a dramatic 349% increase in email-based malware worldwide. This increase shows an intensification of cyberattacks using this vector. However, detections of malicious URLs and phishing attempts decreased by 27%. This decline could suggest that cybercriminals are turning more to email-delivered malware, seeking to bypass typical defenses and reach their targets more effectively.
In a new report titled “ Expansion Calibration », Global cybersecurity company Trend Micro Incorporated revealed that it had detected and blocked 52 million threats targeting Morocco in 2023.
Likewise, the report offers a detailed overview of the company’s ongoing efforts to secure global digital environments. In 2022, Trend Micro successfully blocked more than 40 million email threats, as well as 1.6 million malicious URL attacks. Additionally, the company has stopped more than 3.7 million malware-related incidents, illustrating the scope and diversity of today’s online threats.
Indeed, the report predicts that Trend Micro will neutralize more than 161 billion threats globally by 2023, marking a significant annual increase of 10%. This forecast highlights the growing importance of maintaining constant vigilance and enhanced cyber defense capabilities to effectively protect critical data and infrastructure.
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Asaad Arabi, Managing Director Africa & Venture Markets at Trend Micro, highlighted the importance of responsiveness to cyber threats: “A cyber breach is not just an isolated incident, but rather our response that can turn a situation into a challenge major or even a crisis. “That’s why we must continually adapt and improve our security strategies to address the rapidly evolving digital threat landscape.”
Emphasizing Trend Micro’s efforts to combat the global proliferation of cyber threats, Arabi said the company “enables organizations to stay ahead of cyber threats by opting for the latest solutions, including “seamless integration of artificial intelligence”.
The report highlights how AI is making the work of cybercriminals easier and more dangerous by eliminating traditional barriers such as language and coding skills. In 2023, AI has shown particular promise in the field of social engineering: its automation has proven extremely effective in analyzing large data sets for actionable insights.
Additionally, generative AI has revolutionized phishing by making it easier to create compelling, error-free messages and realistic audio and video deepfakes. Thus, these advances highlight the urgent need to strengthen digital security strategies to counter new emerging threats, where cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting the sophisticated capabilities of AI to carry out targeted and deceptive attacks.
