Mobile phishing is a bigger threat than email now - how to stay protected

"Mobile attack vectors are outstripping email threats as we become more able to detect traditional phishing attempts, Verizon said in a new report exploring the data breach landscape and the impact on businesses worldwide."

"In Verizon's 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), the company said that mobile-centric cyberattacks are increasing in popularity and have a higher click rate than the same phishing attempts sent via email, which raises questions about whether our existing phishing protections are adequate."

"Based on data collected from more than 31,000 real-world security incidents in 2025, with 22,000 confirmed data breaches impacting organizations in 145 countries, Verizon says that "mobile is more dangerous than email.""

"According to Verizon's report, the "human element" was present in 62% of known and recorded data breaches, a marginal increase of 2% year over year. Unfortunately, the data reveals that many cybercriminals are abusing our trust to steal data, commit payment fraud, or act as a precursor to severe security incidents, including ransomware deployment and extortion."

Mobile-centric cyberattacks are increasing and show higher click-through rates than comparable email phishing attempts. Verizon’s 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report uses data from more than 31,000 real-world security incidents in 2025 and 22,000 confirmed data breaches across 145 countries. The report states that mobile is more dangerous than email and highlights voice-based phishing and text scams as effective lures. The human element appears in 62% of known and recorded data breaches, with a small year-over-year increase. Cybercriminals abuse trust to steal data, commit payment fraud, and enable larger incidents such as ransomware deployment and extortion.

Read at ZDNET