Apple Still Among the Most Commonly Mimicked Brand Names in Phishing Scams
Everyone has got this type of email at least once. You know the one. The one that makes you curious to click with just its title and then the body text tells you that you have won a brand-new, latest-generation iPhone or iMac.
You can't remember ever participating in any recent lotteries or raffles or any surveys with prizes or anything of the sort, but you might still want to see what this is about. You click the link and then you've fallen into the scammers' trap.
Researchers monitor malicious phishing campaigns and websites that serve fake popups promising physical rewards. The first quarter of 2020 was dominated by Apple at the head of the hall of shame list, with the highest number of phishing attempts made, trying to spoof official Apple pages and mimic official Apple correspondence.
It is only natural that huge household names would be the first pick when bad actors choose who to spoof in their phishing emails and web pages. Apple, being one of the most recognizable names across the US, is an easy pick when it comes to going for mass appeal. After all, everyone wants a shiny new iPhone for free, right?
Similar phishing pop-ups and emails use simple but effective social engineering tricks. Those fake messages rely on the natural excitement we feel when someone tells us we won something. This excitement will often cause us to forego caution and don't pay too much attention what the crooks behind the scams and phishing campaigns ask us to do once we click a link in their fake emails spoofing Apple.
Even though Apple is not currently the most heavily spoofed brand name in the second half of 2021, it still remains a popular choice for bad actors to use when running phishing campaigns.
Users should always be aware of what emails they open, what links they click and what advertisements may promise. Always be wary of free rewards arriving in your inbox. There is an overwhelming possibility that those are scam and phishing emails sent by malicious actors who are after your login credentials and want to steal your account.
Remember that the free iPhone was never there in the first place and don't risk your personal data and account security over scammers' bait.
