How Phishing Has Expanded Beyond the Email Inbox Today

Phishing scams are the most common form of cyberattack by far, with an estimated 3.4 billion phishing emails sent daily. What’s surprising is that is only 1.2% of emails sent across the Internet. Nowadays, hackers are experimenting with phishing beyond the email inbox, such as with social media phishing.

So, in this blog, we’ll discuss why phishing attacks are no longer strictly email-based and what this means for businesses.

Phishing Scams Outside the Inbox

Email phishing attacks are still a dangerous and very common attack that individuals and businesses face every day. But with inbox defenses improving, hackers are finding new and creative ways to trick people into giving up their sensitive data. They’ll try to compromise your accounts through text messages, chat apps, and platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook.

Social media phishing and SMS phishing scams are particularly effective since the security is generally worse. A hacker may impersonate a brand or colleague, which can make a user act quickly without questioning the legitimacy. The hacker can then deliver a malicious link or attachment through these apps and SMS messages.

We’re also now seeing the rise of malvertising. There have been multiple cases of businesses falling victim to phishing attacks that were advertised by Google or YouTube. These malicious ads appear legitimate but are usually disguised as malicious software or a fake login so that an attacker can get access to your credentials.

Photo by BleepingComputer

The Impact of Social Media Phishing on Businesses

Phishing through paid ads and SMS messages are ways that phishing has evolved beyond just an email. Yet, we believe that social media may be the biggest target of phishing scams due to the free nature of social platforms and how widespread they are.

A hacker could create a fake company profile, hijack brand credibility, and launch targeted attacks on employees through direct messages. But the profiles don’t need to be fake. If the attacker can gain access to the account, they can cause massive amounts of damage, as we saw with the Twitter Bitcoin scam back in 2020.

The point is that social media can be an attack vector to get into employee or company accounts and either steal data there or use those accounts to run more phishing scams. Overall, it leads to reputational damage and financial loss if sensitive data is stolen. Since social media is such a crucial channel for customer engagement, businesses must prioritize securing accounts and training staff to spot phishing scams.

Photo by BBC

Using Social Media in the Workplace

Many organizations encourage employees to use platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, or X to connect with clients or promote the brand. This can be valuable, but it also creates more openings for potential phishing attacks. An employee might receive a malicious message or phishing link and potentially fall for it.

The issue is that these interactions often happen during the workday and on business devices, so it extends the risk beyond the user. A single compromised login could allow attackers to access company profiles, impersonate staff, and spread scams through official channels. Making social media a prime target for phishing scams.

Phishing Prevention Tips for Businesses

With phishing moving away from solely being through email, businesses need a game plan. We at Kirkham Irontech recommend that businesses adopt employee awareness training, use of multi-factor authentication, and strong account security policies.

Regular phishing simulations and strict controls on social media access can reduce the risk of human error. By focusing on these phishing prevention tips, your organization can stay ahead of attackers who will continue to adapt their methods and expand beyond the inbox.

But tips and training aren’t enough. If your business wants a complete cybersecurity service that can protect emails and every endpoint, a managed IT and cybersecurity provider like Kirkham IronTech is your best option. Our team delivers proactive monitoring, expert guidance, and layered defenses so your team can focus on growth instead of dealing with phishing headaches.