Microsoft is one of the top organizations hackers love to impersonate, according to new research

Nowadays our email boxes are filled with countless messages that it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between an authentic message and a smartly hidden threat.

Cisco Talos has recently highlighted an advanced type of cyber deception known as brand impersonation through email, and unfortunately, Microsoft seems to be the preferred target for such an attack.

This strategy, in which attackers pretend to be trusted companies, isn’t only about creating a genuine email; it’s also about using our confidence in well-known logos and titles to gain unauthorized entry past our security systems.

Because these fraudsters use various techniques – from the simple insertion of a brand’s name into an email’s HTML code to the complicated delivery of logos from remote servers – it is clear why many people are deceived by them.

Additionally, we see that this type of scam not only affects well-known brands such as PayPal or Microsoft but also includes many other less famous names. This shows how widespread and diverse this threat can be.

Why do attackers prefer to copy models from big names like Microsoft? It’s about trust. When we view a recognized brand, our caution reduces, and we become more prone to phishing efforts. These emails frequently trick people into giving away important details or clicking on harmful links, potentially causing data breaches and financial harm.

Brand impersonation could happen on many online platforms, including social media, websites, emails and mobile applications. This type of threat exploits the familiarity and legitimacy of popular brand logos to solicit sensitive information from victims. In the context of email security, brand impersonation is commonly observed in phishing emails. Threat actors want to deceive their victims into giving up their credentials or other sensitive information by abusing the popularity of well-known brands.

Cisco Talos

These impersonation techniques are so clever that they can fool even the most knowledgeable users. For example, the attackers could encode the email’s content or fetch logos when it is opened, making it harder to find them using regular security tools.

But there is hope. When people grasp the usual tricks employed by attackers, they can better identify and dodge these imitation assaults at an individual or group level.

Additionally, Cisco and other companies are developing more sophisticated detection techniques, including solutions based on machine learning, to keep up with fraudsters.

A variety of methods are involved in the protection against brand impersonation. The organization can work towards securing its brand assets, like registering domain names and safeguarding their information on WHOIS records. Moreover, spreading awareness about the dangers and indications of brand impersonation to employees and customers can greatly decrease successful attacks.

Brand impersonation tactics are becoming more complex, and it is very important to keep up with new methods and use advanced security steps to protect yourself. Microsoft knows this very well, as it is one of the most targeted companies: in 2022 alone, over 80% of Microsoft 365 accounts were hacked.

Remember that skepticism can help safeguard your personal and professional information online against Microsoft impersonation attempts in this digital era.