A recent study by cybersecurity company NordVPN reports that devices in the United Kingdom experience an average of 97 malware attacks per month. The research also indicates that popular platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp are among the brands most frequently impersonated by hackers.
According to the report, the UK has seen over 18 million malware infection attempts recorded among NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro users since the start of 2023. In May, the company’s software blocked more than 5 billion intrusive ads, nearly 40 billion trackers, and 60 million malware infection attempts globally.
Malware, which encompasses various forms of malicious software including viruses, trojans, ransomware, and spyware, can potentially compromise sensitive data, encrypt files, or take control of devices. The study suggests that cybercriminals often employ subtle misspellings of popular brand URLs to direct users to phishing links and infected file downloads.
The data shows Office365, Facebook, Bet365, and WhatsApp are among the brands most frequently impersonated for malware distribution. Office365 leads with 86,312 fake URLs, followed by Facebook with 19,287 and WhatsApp with 13,474.
Adult content websites were reported to host 8% of all detected malware, the highest percentage among analysed domain categories. Free video hosting sites, sometimes used for unauthorised streaming, were identified as having numerous intrusive ads and trackers, which may lead to potentially harmful websites.
Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN, commented on the findings, stating, “Every day, we face cyber threats without even noticing them, and often the hackers’ tools are masquerading as some of our most trusted brands.”
The report suggests that users consider protective measures such as VPNs and anti-malware software to help safeguard their devices and personal information. However, it’s worth noting that this study was conducted by a VPN provider.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, cybersecurity remains an important consideration for device users.
