Microsoft Office365 software, with 17.8%, is the most affected in the world by phishing organized by cybercriminals. In second place is Facebook (11.5%) followed by WhatsApp (3.9%), Outlook (2.4%) and “Crypto/Wallet” (2.1%). These are the top five favorite targets for hackers. Software programs commonly used in PCs and mobile phones but also social networks, instant messaging apps and even cryptocurrencies and digital wallets.
Phishing on the rise according to the report prepared by Tinexa
This was revealed in the latest Threatland report, edited by Swascan, the cybersecurity company of the Tinexta Group. It should be underlined that the most widespread type of cyber attack globally is that of so-called phishing which uses sophisticated techniques to send deceptive emails, text messages or communications that appear to come from reliable or legitimate sources to obtain confidential information. Just think that in the second half of 2023, 448,665 portals dedicated to phishing were registered worldwide.
Ransomware growing in the second half of 2023: +44%
The ransomware phenomenon should also not be underestimated. In Italy in 2023, the victims of these attacks are, in 77% of cases, small and medium-sized businesses with a turnover of less than 250 million dollars: hackers enter corporate networks through the spread of malicious software that “takes them hostage” the company’s sensitive data, and demand a ransom to restore it. This is a continuously growing trend also in the second half of the year (+44%) and which makes our country rise from eleventh to fifth place among those most affected in the world (88 attacks in total).
Only the United States (1,200), the United Kingdom (171), Canada (126) and Germany (105) precede us. In this same period, the hacker gang that carried out the most actions globally, with 526 attacks, 18 of which in Italy, is Lockbit, recently blocked by the US and British authorities together with Europol.
Services and manufacturing under siege in Italy
Among the sectors most affected in Italy are services (21% of attacks) and manufacturing (20%) followed by healthcare (11%) and the technological sector (9%). The growing digitalisation of the latter two sectors demonstrates the pervasiveness of the ransomware threat which to a lesser extent also involves other sectors such as public services, logistics, luxury and food. The majority of companies attacked (58%) have a number of employees between 1 and 50 and are located almost exclusively in Northern (56%) and Central Italy (37%).