'Pig Butchering' and Other Cybercrimes Preying on Human Psychology Rising Fast
"We are getting good with the technical applications of fighting the stuff. But at the end of the day, it comes down to the human," said Stephen Dougherty, a financial fraud investigator with the U.S. Secret Service.
January 12, 2024 at 11:22 AM
5 minute read
What You Need to Know
- Threat actors are starting to prey on your trusted business relationships—sending invoices from vendors that appear legitimate, for instance.
- Email and social media scams, also known as pig butchering, are the most prevalent type of cyberattack.
- Ransomware gets lots of press but is far less common.
American companies are spending more than ever to beef up their cybersecurity, but threat actors are still managing to stay one step ahead, a discouraging phenomenon security professionals are trying to combat by drawing more attention to the leading vulnerability in the security chain—humans.
Internet crime complaints have surged, according to the FBI, with reported financial losses from 2018 through 2022 totaling $27.6 billion, including $10 billion in 2022. The agency isn't expected to release 2023 data until March, but experts are bracing for an even larger financial hit.
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