A recent analysis of millions of emails has revealed significant security threats, including malware, phishing, and fraudulent schemes. Here are the findings:
- 12% of the emails examined contained malware: These emails included harmful software designed to damage or disrupt computers or networks.
- 6% were compromised business emails or CEO fraud: These emails involved fraudulent schemes where attackers impersonate high-ranking executives or trusted business contacts to deceive recipients into transferring money or sensitive information.
- 45% of the credential phishing emails pretended to be from Microsoft: Nearly half of the phishing attempts aimed to steal login credentials by impersonating Microsoft, a commonly trusted source, to trick users into revealing their usernames and passwords.
- 17% were finance-themed: These emails focused on financial topics, such as fake invoices, tax returns, or bank notifications, in an attempt to lure recipients into disclosing financial information or clicking on malicious links.
- 9.3% of the emails were malicious: Out of all the emails analyzed, nearly one in ten was found to contain harmful content or intentions.
- Of these malicious emails, 38% had only a URL: A significant portion of the harmful emails included just a link, likely leading to a malicious website designed to steal information or infect the recipient’s device with malware.
- 36% included attachments: Another large segment of the malicious emails contained attachments, such as documents or images, which could deploy malware when opened.
- 100 unique malware families were identified in the email scan: The analysis uncovered a wide variety of malware types, indicating the diverse tactics used by attackers to compromise email recipients.
These findings highlight the importance of remaining vigilant and employing robust security measures to protect against email-based threats.
