The cybersecurity landscape isn’t slowing down. If the past year was any sign, 2024 (or current year) will bring even more challenges for IT teams and security professionals. To help make sense of what’s ahead, we’re highlighting the phishing trends worth watching—and how you can stay one step ahead of them.
What is Phishing?
Email phishing continues to lead as one of the most common threats online, and it thrives on human mistakes. These attacks typically arrive in the form of fake messages that look like they’re from a trusted sender. Inside, hackers might hide malware or try to trick recipients into handing over login credentials or authorizing money transfers.
The name fits the method: attackers “bait” users with messages that look legitimate, hoping someone clicks a link or downloads a file. That’s often all it takes to open the door to a serious data breach or malware infection. While phishing mostly shows up through email, it’s now spreading through text messages and bogus social media accounts as well.
Phishing Trends
The days of generic phishing emails are fading. Today’s attacks are far more targeted. Spear phishing—custom attacks crafted for a specific person—is becoming more common. Within that category, more refined threats like whaling, CEO fraud, and Business Email Compromise (BEC) have gained momentum. Hackers put in the effort to learn about their targets, making these emails hard to spot.
In recent years, whaling attacks-targeted phishing campaigns aimed at executives and high-level employees-have continued to surge. While incidents saw a dramatic 1,300% increase back in 2016, the threat has not abated. In fact, incidences of whaling and executive phishing attacks increased by 131% in recent years, underscoring that cybercriminals are intensifying their focus on high-value targets.
Over 90% of cyberattacks still start with phishing emails—a number that hasn’t changed in years. Whaling attacks, which target executives, are rising fast: 30% are opened and 12% lead to clicks. As attackers use AI and social engineering to get past defenses, the financial impact continues to grow. Organizations must stay alert and invest in both awareness and protection.
Phishing Solutions and Prevention
So, how can you reduce phishing risks? While human error will always be a major vulnerability, there are several email phishing protection strategies and tools that can significantly enhance your email security and reduce your exposure to cybersecurity threats.
1. User Education
Train users to read emails with a critical eye—especially messages involving financial actions. If anything seems suspicious, follow up with a manual verification, like a phone call.
2. Email Filters
Use a high-quality spam filter to block phishing emails. Sophisticated filters can detect patterns like mismatched sender and reply addresses and help filter out malicious content before it reaches the inbox.
3. Advanced Threat Protection
Look for email security solutions that offer Advanced Threat Protection, capable of analyzing behaviors and detecting new forms of email phishing attacks. Many of these systems go beyond basic filtering and offer more comprehensive cybersecurity features, including robust malware protection.
4. Financial Process Checks
Update internal procedures to require multiple levels of verification for financial transactions. A single email should never be enough to authorize the transfer of funds.
5. Data Loss Protection (DLP)
Implement a strong DLP solution, particularly one with email-specific rules. This adds another layer of control over sensitive financial communications.
6. Two Factor Authentication (2FA)
Ensure 2FA or multi-factor authentication (MFA) is enabled on all email accounts. Strong email authentication methods are key. Encourage all users to do the same to add an extra security step.
These actions form the foundation of an effective phishing prevention strategy. While there’s no single solution to eliminate every threat, a layered approach—combining tools, employee education, and proactive monitoring—can greatly reduce your risk.
Stay secure!
To learn more about cybersecurity best practices, including solutions like DMARC, Proofpoint Essentials, OnDMARC (provided by Red Sift), email encryption, email archiving solutions, and Security Awareness Training powered by Proofpoint to help educate employees and reduce risky behavior— get in touch for a quick demo!
