As the saying goes, everything old is new again. Spear phishing may be a timeworn technique, but it continues to be effective even in today’s Web 2.0 landscape. In modern hacking, the practice is finding resurgence as an infiltration method for advanced targeted attacks.
Recent research shows that spear phishing is now the #1 method of introducing APTs to corporate and government environments. A whopping 91% of advanced targeted attacks reviewed arrive via spear phished emails. In Spear Phishing Email: Most Favored APT Attack Bait, this new report digs into the use of spear phishing to introduce APTs, including research on the injection methods linked to spear phished emails, attachment risk by file type, and the types of businesses most frequently targeted in these advanced targeted attacks.
Spear phishing may not be a new entry in the hacker playbook, but it has been established the primary method for introducing advanced targeted attacks. Check out the report to see how savvy hackers can infiltrate your company’s inbox as a strategic first step in their targeted attack on your people, your systems, your vulnerabilities, and your data.
In addition, Trend Micro has outlined the issues you’ll face in recognizing and preventing APTs. Learn more on how a custom defense can protect you every step of the way, starting with your email inbox, and let us know in the comments below: Have you seen spear phishing emails introduce attack attempts in your organization?