Mobile Phishing Attacks Surge as Threats Become More Sophisticated

by Justin Erickson

New research shows that mobile phishing attacks have increased by 16% in the US, with attackers leveraging more advanced tactics to evade detection. Cybercriminals are now using multiple forms of phishing: Smishing (SMS phishing), Quishing (QR code scams), Vishing (Voice-based phishing), and Mobile-targeted email phishing to steal credentials, personal data, and more from mobile users. Experts warn that mobile devices are particularly vulnerable due to the difficulty of verifying links on smaller screens, and because SMS and QR codes are often more trusted, opening the door to exploitation. Organizations and individuals are advised to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), use mobile security solutions, remain cautious of unsolicited messages, and look out for illusory webpages to reduce the risk of falling victim to these new mobile phishing schemes.