“We’re going to need a bigger boat.” There’s more phish in the digital seas this year.
Researchers from Kroll analyzed data from security incidents they responded to during the first quarter of 2022. The analysis showed a 54% increase in phishing incidents for initial access compared to the first quarter of 2021.
The analysis also showed ransomware attacks dropped 20% between Q4 of 2021 and Q1 of 2022, partially due to law enforcement’s disruption of malicious activity. However, data collected from this quarter suggests ransomware attacks may pick up again. Recently, ransomware groups have been getting involved with Russia in the war against Ukraine, which may lead to some large threats.
How can businesses ensure they don’t fall victim?
Email attacks from Russia are already on a surge. Especially now, be cautious of any suspicious emails and double check the sender. Many phishing attacks are sending legitimate looking emails from administrative members or CEOs of organizations. If something doesn’t seem right, reach out to that person directly. Educate your employees on what to look for and how to not fall victim to these types of attacks through security awareness training and phishing simulations.
