The banking sector became the main target of phishing attacks in 2024, accounting for 51% of all incidents of this type in the first 10 months of the year, which is significantly higher than the same indicator last year, when the share was only 20%.
Experts from Informzashchita explain the increase in the number of attacks by the high profitability for criminals in case of success, despite the high level of security of financial organizations, as well as the automation of methods of attackers. The main goal of phishing remains the theft of confidential data, such as passwords, customer information or corporate data. In addition, with the help of such attacks, malicious programs can be integrated into systems, which are used to steal data, intercept control or extort. According to the company, 80% of phishing attacks start with fake emails and messages.
One of the factors in the growth of phishing attacks on the banking sector is the high level of information security, which forces attackers to make more attempts to attack more successfully. At the same time, as the study showed, only 0.003% of bank employees click on malicious links every month. This confirms that although the level of protection is high, phishing attacks still remain a relevant threat.
Targeted phishing, or attacks with a carefully crafted legend, are becoming increasingly effective. Attackers use legitimate communication channels, carefully study the victim and target key employees, such as top managers and IT department specialists, who usually have broader access rights to information systems. These accounts open up additional opportunities for data theft and malware implantation.
The increase in phishing attacks is also associated with the automation of the process. According to statistics, about 40% of malicious emails in 2024 were created completely or partially with the help of artificial intelligence. Experts from Informzashchita note that the use of AI systems to detect phishing can become an effective tool in the fight against such a threat.
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