Norton Consumer Cyber Safety Pulse Report: Deception Scams On the Rise

Rhea-AI Summary

NortonLifeLock's Norton Labs released its quarterly Consumer Cyber Safety Pulse Report for Q1 2022, revealing escalating cyber threats, including deepfakes and crypto scams. The report details over $29 million in bitcoin thefts in 2021, projecting further increases in 2022 due to rising cryptocurrency adoption. The team blocked more than 1 billion threats in the same quarter, with 16.3 million phishing attempts being the most prevalent. To enhance social media security, NortonLifeLock introduced Social Media Monitoring.

Positive

• Blocked over 1 billion threats in Q1 2022, averaging 11 million per day.
• Introduced Social Media Monitoring to enhance user security.
• Phishing attempts were monitored effectively with 16.3 million blocks.

Negative

• Expected increase in crypto scam losses as cryptocurrency adoption grows.
• Over $29 million in bitcoin was stolen in 2021, indicating rising vulnerability.

Cybercriminals are Capitalizing on Global Events with Deepfakes and Crypto Scams to Mislead Consumers

TEMPE, Ariz., April 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NortonLifeLock's global research team, Norton Labs, today published its quarterly Consumer Cyber Safety Pulse Report sharing the top consumer cybersecurity insights and takeaways from January through March 2022, including how cybercriminals are deceiving victims with deepfakes and crypto scams and accessing their financial or personal information.

Deepfakes are being utilized by bad actors to scam consumers and spread disinformation. The Norton Labs team has spotted deepfakes used to create fake social media profiles, fuel charity scams and other fraudulent ploys, and spread propaganda as part of the ongoing war in Ukraine, in addition to deepfakes used simply to make funny videos.

Crypto scams are also trending as cryptocurrency becomes more widely adopted. Norton Labs tracked over $29 million in bitcoin stolen in 2021 and expects this figure to continue to rise in 2022 as the crypto market's value increases and scammers capitalize on world events, including the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine to steal donations from philanthropic crypto investors. New threats emerge as cybercriminals combine tactics. By presenting realistic disinformation via deepfakes in a phishing scam that collects payment in cryptocurrency, a consumer would have little to no recourse.

"Scammers are always evolving their tactics to make their attacks look more believable," says Darren Shou, head of technology, NortonLifeLock. "Cybercriminals are masters at profiting from deception, so it's crucial for consumers to be aware of the latest scams and to critically analyze anything suspicious they encounter on the internet, whether on social media or in their inbox. We are here to help consumers navigate a changing digital world where you can't always believe what you are seeing."

To help consumers keep their social media accounts safer, NortonLifeLock recently introduced Social Media Monitoring, a new feature that notifies customers about potentially risky links, including scam or hacking attempts, phishing attempts, or malware links in their account feed.¹

By the Numbers

From January through March 2022, Norton thwarted over 1 billion threats, or around 11 million threats per day. Phishing attempts were one of the most common threats during this time period, with 16.3 million blocked, highlighting a high volume in attempts to trick consumers. Norton also blocked:

• 78.9 million file threats
• 227 thousand mobile threats
• 86 thousand ransomware attacks

For more information and Cyber Safety guidance, visit the Norton Internet Security Center.

About NortonLifeLock Inc.

NortonLifeLock Inc. (NASDAQ: NLOK) is a global leader in consumer Cyber Safety, protecting and empowering people to live their digital lives safely. We are the consumer's trusted ally in an increasingly complex and connected world. Learn more about how we're transforming Cyber Safety at www.NortonLifeLock.com. 

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¹ Does not include monitoring of chats or direct messages.

 

Jenna Torluemke	Heaven Lampshire
NortonLifeLock Inc.	Edelman for NortonLifeLock Inc.
Jenna.Torluemke@nortonlifelock.com	Heaven.Lampshire@edelman.com

 

 

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SOURCE NortonLifeLock Inc.

FAQ

What are the key findings in NortonLifeLock's Q1 2022 Consumer Cyber Safety Pulse Report?

The report highlights rising cyber threats, including deepfakes and crypto scams, with over $29 million in bitcoin stolen in 2021.

How many threats did NortonLifeLock block in Q1 2022?

NortonLifeLock blocked over 1 billion threats in Q1 2022, averaging around 11 million per day.

What new feature did NortonLifeLock introduce to enhance security?

NortonLifeLock introduced Social Media Monitoring to help users identify risky links and potential scams.

What types of scams are increasing according to the Norton Labs report?

Deepfakes and crypto scams are increasing, with cybercriminals exploiting global events.

How many phishing attempts did Norton block in Q1 2022?

Norton blocked 16.3 million phishing attempts during Q1 2022.