Phishing continues to dominate the cyber threat landscape in early 2025. Cyber criminals are using recognizable brands to exploit user trust, especially in the technology and finance sectors. These impersonation tactics are evolving, becoming harder to spot and more effective at stealing sensitive data.
Brand Impersonation on the Rise
Phishing campaigns have increasingly focused on brands people use daily. In Q1 2025, Microsoft was the most spoofed brand, accounting for 36% of all phishing activity. Google followed with 12%, and Apple came in third with 8%. Notably, Mastercard re-entered the list after more than a year’s absence, now ranking fifth.
Top 10 Most Imitated Brands – Q1 2025:
- Microsoft – 36%
- Google – 12%
- Apple – 8%
- Amazon – 4%
- Mastercard – 3%
- Alibaba – 2%
- WhatsApp – 2%
- Facebook – 2%
- LinkedIn – 2%
- Adobe – 1%
These numbers reflect attackers’ intent to harvest credentials and financial information through trusted platforms.
Targeted Phishing Campaign: Mastercard
In February 2025, attackers launched a wave of phishing sites imitating Mastercard’s official domain. These fraudulent pages were aimed at Japanese users and sought to steal credit card numbers and CVV codes. Examples of spoofed domains included:
mastercard-botan[.]aluui[.]cnmastercard-pitiern[.]gmkt6q[.]cnmastercard-orexicible[.]bvswu[.]cnmastercard-transish[.]gmkt7e[.]cn
While these domains have since been taken down, this campaign highlights the renewed focus on financial institutions by phishing actors.
Credential Theft via Fake OneDrive Login
A separate phishing incident involved a spoofed OneDrive login portal hosted at login[.]onedrive-micrasoft[.]com. The site copied Microsoft’s official branding to trick users into entering credentials. These types of phishing lures are effective because of how closely they mimic legitimate login pages.
Most Attacked Sectors in Q1 2025
The technology industry saw the most brand impersonation attempts. This trend mirrors the reliance on digital platforms and cloud services. Social networks and e-commerce brands were also heavily spoofed. Attackers targeted users of Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and Amazon, aiming to exploit their trust in popular online services.
Strengthening Phishing Defenses
Cyber security awareness is more critical than ever. Organizations must implement tools like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and email protection platforms to detect and block threats. Security solutions such as Harmony Email provide a defense against phishing and social engineering attacks.
As phishing tactics become more convincing, businesses and individuals must recognize the warning signs. Vigilance, education, and layered security are key to reducing exposure.
