Phishing is The Top Reason for Breaches of Businesses in 2022

A new survey confirmed that phishing attacks remain the greatest cybersecurity threat to businesses if they don’t work with a computer security company.


Phishing is when an attacker sends a spoofed and deceptive message designed to trick the recipient into sending sensitive information or releasing malicious software.


When you click a link in the email, you’re taken to a page which looks similar to your bank’s login page.


But it’s not. It’s a fake page set up to steal your information. The criminals hope you’ll enter your real login details, so they can access your business bank accounts.


Other threats from phishing emails include fake PDFs – with names such as “invoice”. Often clicking these can allow the hacker to install malicious software, or malware, on your computer.

Dark Reading, a cybersecurity news website, compiles an annual Strategic Security Survey every year. 


In the recently released 2021 survey, 53% of businesses that reported a breach this year said it happened primarily because of a phishing attack. 


Forty-one percent blamed malware for playing a part in their breach, and seventeen percent experienced a Denial of Service attack. This is where hackers send a flood of traffic to a network or website, hoping to overwhelm it and force it to shut down.


What’s important to remember is that none of these attacks were specifically targeted at these businesses. 


Everyday hackers email thousands of people, waiting to see who opens and clicks on the emails.


Even the largest workplaces are susceptible to phishing attacks, such as the information breach at UC San Diego in 2021. Ports and maritime systems along the coasts have especially seen these organized attacks. When these ports and shipping stakeholders become victims of cyber-attacks, they lose data and profits.


That’s why the primary protection against phishing is training your people well. Software can help to protect your business, but not as much as training or an MSP help desk can. 


Overall, make sure that valuable information at your business stays protected, as these attacks truly can happen anywhere to anyone. If you need help with phishing awareness training, or believe your business is at imminent risk, please contact us immediately.


Implement Security Procedures in Your Business Today


Our Managed Defender Program is one of our most popular packages to keep your computer safe and give you access to around the clock support.  A secure password manager, scheduled network scans and necessary patching for software or operating systems are just a few benefits to what our team can do.





At West Coast IT Group, our team works diligently to provide fast IT solutions and computer security services such as support and consultation. Our company understands technology, and we have been designing, implementing and supporting systems for over 30 years. We offer network protection for businesses located from Del Mar to Oceanside. 


Get Phishing Protection With Our Managed Defender Program




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