An increasing number of cybercriminals are turning to phishing scams, it has been claimed.
According to Symantec researcher Samir Patel, hackers are changing their strategies in an uncertain economic climate, as the popularity of spam falls.
“This volatile economic state has perhaps impacted the strategy of email spammers in a very defining way as well, especially from the point of view of pushing additional spam mails,” he said.
“A paradigm shift is being observed from spam to phishing. Therefore, it is worth lending some thought to the modus operandi of spammers.”
Mr. Patel noted that a fall in consumer spending, as a result of the difficult economic conditions, has affected the success of spamming campaigns.
Fewer people are being lured into purchasing spam products, as they are being more discerning about their purchases, he claimed.
According to a survey conducted by YouGov, 42 per cent of people felt their trust in a brand would be greatly reduced it they received a phishing email.