In 2024, phishing has reached a critical level, with clicks on fraudulent links almost tripling in one year. Hackers are doubling their ingenuity to deceive their targets. And they explore more subtle and unexpected tactics. Faced with this constantly evolving threat, how can you protect your loved ones and avoid falling into their traps? We take stock.
You know that time when you get a weird email about a reward or a mysterious package to collect? Today, pirates have moved up a gear. So, in 2024, clicks on phishing links have exploded.
According to a recent report, these attacks no longer just hide in shady emails. Now, they are invading search engines, online advertisements, and even your favorite sites.
Hackers have become maestros of scams. They then play on the mental fatigue of users and their confidence in familiar interfaces. And be careful! Criminals not only target businesses, but also individuals.
Why is phishing so popular in 2024?
In 2024, phishing has become an XXL scourge. According to Netscopethe number of clicks on these links has tripled in one year. According to this report, this increase in power can be explained by several reasons such as cognitive fatigue. With relentless attacks, even the most vigilant users eventually let their guard down. I admit that staying alert 24 hours a day is humanly exhausting.
Then there are hacker tactics that continue to evolve. They are true artists of evil, capable of creating web pages and very credible messages. They particularly target cloud applications, with a clear preference for Microsoft 365which is logically popular since it is the most popular productivity suite in the world.
In parallel, platforms like Yahoo, Adobe or DocuSign often serve as springboards to steal other sensitive information.
Little surprise from the report! Emails are no longer the primary vector for phishing. For what ? Because we’ve been hammered so hard to watch out for weird emails that we’ve become more vigilant.
So, hackers adapted by exploiting and SEO to push fake sites to the top of search engine results.
They also target spaces where we are supposed to relax, like commercial and entertainment sites. They insert malicious links in comments, advertisements and even infected pages.
Okay, now that you have the basics, I’ll share my practical advice with you to avoid falling into the trap.
Educate those around you by explaining the risks of phishing and showing examples of common attacks. Encourage them to ask questions before clicking anywhere. Also enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts. Even if someone manages to steal your credentials, they won’t be able to access them without the additional code.
Also use security toolslike modern browsers and extensions like uBlock Origin, to block malicious sites.
Also be very careful with search engines. Google is not infallible, so always check URLs before clicking. And make sure to update your software regularly, because these updates often fix security vulnerabilities that hackers love to exploit.
So, 2024 is the year phishing has its big show, but we are not defenseless. With a little vigilance and by raising awareness among those close to you, you can avoid a lot of worries. I know it might seem heavy, but an unfortunate click can be costly. And between us, I’d rather see you watching videos than filling out fraud complaint forms.
And of course, if you have other tips for avoiding phishing, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments!
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