Mimecast Publishes Global Threat Intelligence Report 2024 H1 – Press Release: Cyber Threats and Small Businesses in Focus

Mimecast, a leading global Human Risk Management platform, has recently released its Global Threat Intelligence Report 2024 H1, highlighting the increasing threats posed by malicious links and AI-driven bots in call centers on cybersecurity defenses. Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to these attacks, facing a higher volume of cyber threats compared to large enterprises.

The report reveals that messaging attacks have evolved, with hackers now opting for malicious links over malware to deliver payloads to victims’ systems. The use of malicious links surged by 133% in the first quarter of 2024 and 53% in the second quarter, demonstrating a significant increase in these types of attacks.

Furthermore, attackers are increasingly using generative AI to create phishing templates, targeting corporate employees and consumers alike. One notable instance involved sending 380,000 emails with an AI-generated PDF document that led recipients to a fraudulent webpage.

Small businesses continue to be prime targets for cyber threats, experiencing up to 40 threats per user in the first quarter of 2024. Despite an overall decline in the average number of threats across all business sizes, employees at small and medium businesses still face a higher number of threats compared to those at large enterprises.

Mick Paisley, Chief Security & Resilience Officer at Mimecast, emphasizes the crucial role of email security in cybersecurity, urging organizations to optimize their email security measures for enhanced protection against emerging threats. The full Global Threat Intelligence Report 2024 H1 provides further insights and recommendations to help businesses bolster their cybersecurity defenses and mitigate potential risks.