LinkedIn has topped the list for phishing scams in the first quarter this year, amassing over half (52%) of all phishing attempts globally during the quarter. According to the Brand Phishing Report for Q1 2022 by cyber security solutions provider Check Point Research, this is a spike from the previous quarter, which saw LinkedIn rank fifth and account for only 8% of phishing attempts. Meanwhile, DHL, which ranked first during the previous quarter, came in second and accounted for 14% of all phishing attempts during the quarter.
In a brand phishing attack, criminals try to imitate the official website of a well-known brand by using a similar domain name or URL and web page design to the genuine site. According to the report, this is usually achieved via targeted emails or text messages to individuals, redirecting users when they are browsing the web, or even through fraudulent mobile applications. The fake website often contains a form intended to steal users’ credentials, payment details or other personal information.
Omer Dembinsky, data research group manager at Check Point Software, which owns Check Point Research, said that if there was ever any doubt that social media would become one of the most heavily targeted sectors by criminal groups, the first quarter this year has laid those doubts to rest. “While Facebook has dropped out of the top ten rankings, LinkedIn has soared to number one and has accounted for more than half of all phishing attempts…
