Microsoft is hackers’ ‘favourite’ brand when it comes to scamming users

Phishing scams have been on the rise and are a big threat to users’ personal and financial data. A report by Check Point Research reveals the list of brands most frequently imitated by cybercriminals in their attempt to cheat users and steal personal information or payment credentials.

According to the research report, during the first quarter of 2024, Microsoft was the most imitated brand in phishing attacks, accounting for a whopping 38% of all brand phishing attempts. Google came in at the second spot with 11% of attempted brand phishing attacks. LinkedIn also saw 11% of such attempts. Microsoft owns LinkedIn as it acquired the professional’s choice of social network in 2016.

The top 10 list of brands also includes Apple, Facebook, Airbnb, Amazon, Roblox among others.

When it comes to impersonating brands for phishing attacks, the technology sector was the top industry followed by social networks and banking. “The technology brands lead in phishing attacks, likely due to their widespread usage in corporate and remote work environments, making them a lucrative entry point into company assets,” notes the report.