A new tactic is gaining popularity among threat actors that involves the use of "zip" domains in phishing campaigns. Fortinet Labs, in this article, explored how threat actors are incorporating zip domains into their arsenals to enhance their phishing efforts.
Why zip domains?
Zip domains are a relatively new approach by cybercriminals to deceive victims and evade detection.
- Instead of employing traditional domains, such as .com or .net, threat actors leverage less common extensions such as .zip to host their phishing websites.
- The use of zip domains adds an extra layer of disguise, making it harder for users and security systems to identify malicious links.
- The use of zip domains is proving to be more effective for adversaries to improve their phishing success rates. Because when victims encounter unfamiliar domain extensions, they may not immediately recognize them as potential threats.
Why this matters
Zip domains pose a significant challenge to existing security protocols.
- Many anti-phishing solutions are designed to scan URLs for suspicious keywords or patterns, but they may not adequately detect zip domains as potential threats.
- As a result, these malicious links can slip through filters and reach unsuspecting targets, increasing the effectiveness of the phishing campaign.
- Furthermore, by employing zip domains, threat actors amplify the psychological impact on victims.
- This unconventional domain extension can create a false sense of legitimacy, leading users to believe that the link is secure and trustworthy.
Conclusion
The emergence of zip domains as a new tool in the cybercriminal arsenal underscores the need for heightened vigilance and proactive security measures. Organizations and individuals must stay informed about evolving phishing tactics and invest in robust anti-phishing solutions.
Publisher
/https://cyware-ent.s3.amazonaws.com/image_bank/0826_shutterstock_1124941190.jpg)
/https://cyware-ent.s3.amazonaws.com/image_bank/shutterstock_235930300.jpg)
