Phishing emails #1 threat to UK businesses

By Patronum

March 17, 2018

Phishing emails #1 threat to UK businesses image

Malicious links within emails are posing the biggest cyber threat to businesses across the UK, US, Germany and Australia, according to 59% of business decision-makers asked in a recent survey.

When asked what they see as the biggest threat to their organisation, business decision-makers ranked phishing emails as the top threat:

Cyber Threatscape Top 10

Malicious links within emails – 59%
Employees sharing usernames/passwords – 33%
USB memory sticks/removable storage – 31%
Users not following protocol/data protection policies – 30%
Ex-employees retaining access to network – 28%
Infection via malware from personal devices – 26%
Hackers – 25%
Employees using non-authorised tools/applications for work purposes (personal email drives/file sharing) – 25%
Social media viruses – 24%
Critical information on stolen devices – 23%

Email remains a popular tool for attackers to launch cyber attacks, distribute ransomware and other forms of malware, or to commit fraud via business email compromise.