Phishing Assaults between May and June 2014 Up 43%, Reports RSA

EMC's security division RSA just published a report according to which, Internet scammers were apparently using the method of trawling as it was seen that phishing assaults increased 43 percent during June 2014 around the globe in comparison with May 2014.

It may be noted that phishing, when carried out over the Internet, involves fraud wherein Internauts receive one genuine-looking e-mail that actually tricks them into revealing their financial and other personal data.

As per the report, USA is home to most assaults, while specifically it represents the country receiving the majority of assaults across the world. Statistics show that USA was target of 57% of the entire estimated phishing assaults whilst it was as well responsible for 43% of assaults.

Comparing with Germany, the latter received 7% of assaults as well as was source to 7% of total assaults.

Phishing campaigns are launched mainly in connection with e-commerce, with 46 percent of assaults aimed at airlines, 16 percent at money transfer companies followed with 13 percent at PC along with electronics retailers.

Considering in terms of mean value, a fraudulent buyer usually expends an enormously greater sum for e-commerce transactions compared to any legitimate buyer. Characteristically, an Internet purchase of jewelry costs EUR 230, whilst a fraudulent transaction values EUR 970 which's fourfold higher.

Country Manager Gerry Murray for EMC Ireland recommends Internet purchasers towards cautiously examining every website if it shows indications of fraud such as a shield icon else padlock within the Web browser's address bar for an URL that is dubious alternatively one whose payment processing box isn't securely encrypted. These are alerts about the website being unsafe as well as a possible scam. So Internauts must follow their instincts and visit some other destination when not convinced, Murray advises. Newstalk.ie reported this dated 31st July, 2014.

There is little sign of phishing waning from scammers using the means, as the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) recently reported how round the year 2013, an aggregate of 115,565 assaults took place, accounting for a 60% increase between H1 (January to June) and H2 (July to December) of 2013.

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