Where Do Most Phishing Attacks Occur and Why?

One of the main ways hackers can penetrate your network is through a social-engineering, or phishing, attack. A phishing attack compels users to disclose personal information before proceeding to the following page. This page is often disguised as a reputable institution, such as your email provider or bank’s website, thus tricking you into entering personal information on a secure portal.

Plainly, think of phishing as that email that solicits money through a cunning story, like the famous email chain about the prince who needed money to return to the throne. While phishing attacks can occur in almost any part of the world, it’s worth noting the countries and regions where it occurs the most. Unsurprisingly, the biggest hotspots for phishing and cybercrime occur in countries known to be victims of cybercrime, such as the United States and China.

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Asia
East Asia has endured an uptick of cybercrime and phishing attacks in the last decade. Countries like Vietnam, China, Russia, India, and Japan all rank high on countries that experience a high number of phishing attacks. The likely reason for the increase is twofold: the standing of these countries in geopolitical terms, and the sophistication of their country’s network. For example, China’s mostly closed Internet has given rise to a black market Internet, which inherently breeds a space for cybercrime. On the other hand, Japan’s relatively open Internet has been plagued in recent years by an uptick in phishing scams as their economy increases in size.

Europe
Germany, France, and the U.K. also experience a high number of cybercrime and phishing attacks. The attacks on the three largest economies of Europe probably happen because of that fact — financial incentive attracts hackers.

The Americas
The U.S. and Brazil can also claim to be high on the list of victims from cybercrimes and phishing attacks. U.S. cybercrimes increased from 18.89% to 23.96% in 2016, making it the country most susceptible to cybercrime. Brazil also saw an uptick, as it moved form the 10th highest victim of cybercrime to the 3rd.

How to Stay Safe
There are many ways you can stay safe from cybercrime and phishing attacks. The easiest way is to make sure you’re browsing safely by using a security and antivirus app. The second way is to look at emails with scepticism, especially if you haven’t done anything different with your online accounts. Also, be aware of your friends or family getting hacked and odd messages coming from them.