The high level of phishing in the US can be attributed to several factors, including its advanced digital infrastructure, a large population of internet-connected users, and extensive use of online financial transactions. According to Deepen Desai, global chief information security officer at Zscaler, phishing is a persistent threat that is growing more sophisticated as threat actors utilize cutting-edge advancements in generative AI and manipulate trusted platforms to intensify attacks. Desai emphasizes the importance of staying informed about the latest cybersecurity insights and strengthening phishing defenses. He suggests that organizations adopt a proactive layered approach that integrates a robust zero trust architecture with advanced AI-powered phishing prevention controls to effectively counter evolving threats.

The finance and insurance sector experienced the highest number of overall phishing attempts, with a 393 percent increase in attacks from the previous year. As manufacturing processes become more reliant on digital systems and interconnected technologies like IoT/OT, the risk of exploitation by threat actors seeking unauthorized access or disruption also grows. Microsoft emerged as the top imitated enterprise brand in 2023, with its OneDrive and SharePoint platforms ranking in the top five as well, making them lucrative targets for cybercriminals aiming to exploit Microsoft’s vast user base.