91% of Cyberattacks Originate from Phishing Emails

Phishing emails have emerged as one of the most prevalent and effective entry points for cybercriminals, accounting for approximately 91% of all cyberattacks. By exploiting human error and trust, phishing has become a primary vector for delivering malware, stealing credentials, and initiating large-scale cyberattacks.
 
Spear phishing is an advanced form of phishing that targets individuals or specific organizations by leveraging personal or contextual information. 
 
Unlike generic phishing campaigns, spear phishing attacks are highly tailored, making them more convincing and harder to detect. 
 
These attacks often exploit trust and familiarity to deceive victims into divulging sensitive information or executing malicious actions.

 
Attackers gather detailed information about their target through social media, professional networks (e.g., LinkedIn), or publicly available data. 
 
The phishing email is crafted to include specific details about the victim, such as their name, job title, company, or recent activity. This makes the email appear authentic.
 
According to a Trend Micro report, 94% of spear-phishing emails include file attachments as the primary payload. 
 
These attachments, often disguised as invoices, resumes, or legitimate documents, carry malware that activates upon opening. The remaining 6% of attacks rely on links directing victims to fake login pages or sites hosting malware.
 
Once the victim downloads malware or provides credentials, attackers gain unauthorized access to systems or networks, enabling data theft, espionage, or financial fraud.
 
Hackers are unleashing increasingly sophisticated tools, while organizations scramble to keep up, hampered by talent shortages and inadequate defenses. 
 
The phrase "not if, but when" has never been more relevant, as many companies find themselves on borrowed time, facing a ticking cyber threat that grows more imminent with each passing day.

Ms. S Mohini Ratna - Editor VARINDIA