Proofpoint study: Email-attacks on CEOs are increasing strongly

Proofpoint, Inc., one of the world’s foremost Next-Generation Cybersecurity companies, has launched a study on the development of Business Email Compromise attacks (BEC, also CEO fraud) on the basis of extensive research on attack assaults on more than 5,000 business customers.

The attacks are more sophisticated and at shorter intervals. Within three months (October to December 2016) there is an increase of 45 percent. A Proofpoint-enhanced “Web Discover Module” from Digital Risk Defense and a protection with “Email Fraud Defense”, which enables Proofpoint customers to authenticate their emails, are designed to counter the fast-growing threat. With the Web Discover module, customers are supported to identify similar, dubious domains registered by third parties. This equality in the domain name is used by many attackers to deceive the potential victims.