Phishing Activity Trends Summary 2013

The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) Phishing Activity Trends Report 2013 analyzes phishing attacks reported to the APWG by its member companies, its Global Research Partners, through the organization’s website and by e-mail submissions. The APWG also measures the evolution, proliferation, and propagation of crimeware by drawing from the research of its member companies. This report summarizes several interesting trends related to recent phishing activity.

The key findings from the report are indicated below.

• Phishing attack numbers declined 20 percent from Q4 2012 to Q1 2013, due to a precipitous drop in virtual server phishing attacks.
• Trends indicate phishing levels returning to the levels seen prior to the record-setting highs of 2012.
• The significant drop in the number of phishing-based Trojans and downloaders hosted in the USA, with an increase in Canada, illustrates the migratory patterns of cyber-criminals.
• After reaching an all-time high in November 2012, the number of brands targeted by phishers dropped as low as 348, in February 2013.
• Payment Services jumped back on top as the most-targeted industry sector, after being surpassed by financial services during the fourth quarter of 2012.
• Trojan infections have reached record levels, accounting for almost 80 percent of all infections.

As the report indicates, phishing sites declined somewhat in 2013, but phishing and other social engineering tactics remain a significant concern for companies. 
Phishing Facts and Resources pages for useful information on the threat of phishing and phishing prevention information.

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