Mobile phishing encounters accelerated in 2022
Since 2021, mobile phishing attacks have increased 10% for enterprise devices and 20% for personal devices.
In 2022, mobile phishing encounters reached record-setting levels globally, according to Lookout Inc., which reported 30% of personal and enterprise device users were exposed to these threats each quarter during the past year.
Mobile phishing encounter rates have increased around 10% for enterprise devices and 20% for personal devices since 2021, according to Lookout, an endpoint-to-cloud security company. More than half of personal mobile devices were exposed to phishing attacks every quarter as well this past year.
Lookout reported that mobile phishing is one of the most effective ways to steal login credentials, making it a major security risk. As with most cyber-related risks, the increase in remote work — along with lax bring-your-own-device policies — is contributing to the growth in mobile phishing attacks.
Regulated industries, such as insurance, endured the heaviest barrage of mobile phishing attacks, Lookout reported. Enterprise users are also falling prey to mobile phishing attempts more often. In 2020, around 1.6% of enterprise users clicked on six or more malicious links during the year. In 2022, that rate grew to 11.8%, which indicates users are having a tougher time recognizing phishing attempts.
“Mobile as a threat surface will continue to grow, and hybrid work continues to grow in tandem, introducing huge numbers of unmanaged devices into the enterprise environment,” Aaron Cockerill, chief strategy officer at Lookout, said in a release. “It is more important now than ever for organizations to evolve their cybersecurity strategy to proactively combat mobile phishing. As one of the most effective attack vectors for threat actors, often serving as a starting point for more advanced attacks, mobile phishing protection should be a top priority for organizations of any size.”
For a company with 5,000 employees, the potential annual financial impact of mobile phishing is nearly $4 million, according to Lookout.
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