The IT Nerd

According to data presented by the Atlas VPN team, social media scams earned fraudsters an astounding $658M just in H1 2023, exponentially higher than any other contact method. Compared to 2022, total reported fraud losses increased by $50M (from $608M).  

In all, 83,302 fraud instances originating from social media were recorded in the first half of 2023. The total number of social media fraud reports has tripled since 2020, when 25,459 instances were registered.

The numbers are based on data provided by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of the United States, which draws on 171,330 directly reported social media fraud instances throughout H1 2023 and H1 2022 and reports provided by Sentinel Data.

After social media, scams on websites and apps were the second most effective platform for luring money in H1 2023. Although the total fraud losses were lower than in the first half of 2022 ($490M), they still amounted to $432M out of the pockets of unsuspecting victims.

Phone call scams occupy the third place, with reports showing their profitability increased by almost 10% from $388M in H1 2022 to $426M in H1 2023. It is speculated that phone calls remain a popular avenue for scammers targeting older generations because they have yet to adopt social media as widely as other cohorts.

A further $198M was obtained through e-mail scams, $180M through text messages, $107Mvia ads or pop-ups, and $36M through mail. This brings the profit of fraudsters in H1 2023 to a whopping $2.04B. However, this number is likely underestimated, as research shows most fraud cases go unreported.

Millennials and Gen Z are most susceptible to social media fraud

Consistent with generational differences in social media usage, data from H1 2023 suggests that younger people are more likely to fall for scams originating on social media. 

The most susceptible group by far were people ages 20-29 who lost money through social media in 38% of all fraud cases. The number then drops to 32% for people ages 30-39, 29% for people ages 40-49, and 26% for ages 50-59. 

Among older generations, social media ceases to be the top contact method for scammers, overtaken by websites or apps for ages 60-69 (21%), as well as phone calls for ages 70-79 (23%) and 80 and over (35%). 

Even if fraud affects every generation differently, no one is entirely safe from scammers online. Here are a few tips for avoiding social media scams:

• Restrict who can access your social media profile, postings, and information. Every platform gathers personal data about you through social media activity; however, you can impose some limitations by adjusting your privacy settings.
• Call a friend if they message you regarding an urgent financial need or opportunity too good to be true. If they ask you to pay with a wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency, or other payment methods popular among cybercriminals, their account might have been stolen. 
• Remain calm if someone unknown approaches you on social media to initiate a friendship or romantic relationship, as that is often a first step in coaxing money out of a person. Moreover, you should never pay money to someone you have not met.
• Investigate any brand or merchant before making a purchase. Look for its or their name online along with the terms “scam” or “complaint.”

To read the full article, head over to: https://atlasvpn.com/blog/scammers-profited-over-658-million-from-social-media-users-in-h1-2023

According to data presented by the Atlas VPN team, based on data from Freedom House, only 17% of internet users have access to a truly free internet. Generally, conditions online for human rights have deteriorated for the 13th year, with the highest declines occurring in Iran, followed by the Philippines, Belarus, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua.  

Internet users in China suffer the most, facing the most severe content limitation and government censorship for the ninth year in a row. In contrast, Icelandic users enjoy the most online liberty worldwide for the fifth consecutive year.

As per the findings, 36% of internet users worldwide do not have access to internet freedom, characterized by high infrastructural, economic, and political obstacles to access; limits on content, including the filtering and blocking of websites; as well as violations on the right to freedom of expression using legal and extralegal repercussions.  

Elsewhere, the internet is partially free to 35% of its users. Countries such as Hungary and Colombia are good examples of this category. Both boast open internet access but also face threats, such as cyberattacks on media outlets or policies that impede the operations of opposition groups, journalists, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

Meanwhile, only 17% of the global internet population enjoys the internet without significant restrictions. Researchers observed little-to-no critical internet controls exerted in Costa Rica, Germany, Estonia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Argentina, the United States, and Taiwan, to name a few. 

Websites blocked by governments reach record-high

Researchers observed that conventional forms of censorship are becoming increasingly popular among repressive governments, especially in cases where AI-powered moderation tools fail to keep up with a sudden surge of criticism and dissent. 

The most popular form of such internet control is the forced removal of content, which is employed across 45 countries. Speech that concentrates on political, social, or religious topics is especially targeted despite being protected according to international human rights standards. 

Furthermore, a record-high of 41 national governments blocked websites that host similar content. For example, the Belarusian government, which has aided Moscow’s military aggression, has blocked more than 9,000 websites, including several independent news sites maintained by Belarusian journalists working in exile.

The report also states that 22 governments took action to regulate or outright ban content on social media platforms to silence dissent. One example of this was observed during nationwide protests across Iran in September 2022. Iran intermittently restricted internet connectivity and blocked WhatsApp and Instagram, the only international social media platforms accessible in the country. In addition, 19 countries also banned VPN tools to prevent bypassing such censorship.

During the study’s coverage period, 16 countries restricted internet connectivity. One was Sudan, where authorities limited internet access in the aftermath of the 2021 military coup, cutting off communication routes for the opposition and hiding evidence of human rights violations perpetrated against them.

To read the full article, head over to: https://atlasvpn.com/blog/only-17-of-the-world%E2%80%99s-internet-users-are-free 

According to data presented by the Atlas VPN team based on a report by Abnormal Security, Microsoft was by far the most impersonated brand by cybercriminals in 2023. The global technology company’s likeness was spoofed over 650,000 times, accounting for 4.31% of all phishing attacks among 350 brands.

Some other reputable companies were present in the top three, including one of the most well-established and widely used digital payment systems, PayPal (1.05%) and social media giant Facebook (0.68%).

Cloud-based electronic signature technology provider DocuSign (0.48%) ranked fourth, while financial and business management company Intuit (0.39%) and the world’s leading logistics company DHL (0.34%) landed in fifth and sixth place, respectively.

Other brands among the top ten include computer security software company McAfee (0.32%), leading internet search engine Google (0.30%), the world’s largest online retailer Amazon(0.27%), and the largest database management company worldwide, Oracle (0.21%).

By impersonating well-known brands like the ones listed above, cybercriminals reliably leverage the victim’s trust and undermine their caution, making it easier to trick them into giving up account credentials or exposing them to malware via malicious links. 

Fraudsters usually achieve this by collecting public information through corporate websites and social media accounts, scouting targets with access to sensitive information and credentials. Imposters can then create a message that masks itself as a message from the impersonated brand to solicit information from said targets. 

To read the full article, head over to: https://atlasvpn.com/blog/microsoft-paypal-among-most-impersonated-brands-in-phishing-attacks-in-2023

The internet continues to evolve, and new trends emerge each month. In August 2023, Wikipedia pageview data provided insight into some of the hottest online trends.

According to the data presented by the Atlas VPN, the Oppenheimer film, an Indian movie “Gadar 2”, and Cleopatra were the most visited Wikipedia pages in August. Besides these, YouTube and Barbie’s film were also some of the most viewed pages. Throughout August, Wikipedia pages were visited nearly 7.8 billion times.

The biopic about J. Robert Oppenheimer starring Cillian Murphy generated nearly 7 million views on its Wikipedia page. In addition, the page about Oppenheimer, the person, ranked fifth on this list with 5.3 million views.

August was a hot month for Indian films. A highly visited page, with 6.6 million views, was the Indian action film “Gadar 2” released on August 11. It is the seventh highest-grossing Hindi film of all time. One more Indian film, “Jailer,” ranked seventh with 4.6 million views on Wikipedia.

Cleopatra ranks third on the most visited page list with 6.1 million views. YouTube’s Wikipedia page was visited 6 million times. Barbie’s live-action film drove nearly 5 million views to the Wikipedia page. U.S. presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, though lesser known, drew significant attention with 4.4 million clicks on his Wikipedia page.

Now one of the more funny entries on this list is the 2017 film “XXX: Return of Xander Cage” with 4.1 million views. Though there recently were some speculations about a fourth movie in the series, we believe that this interest comes from people searching for adult movies, but coming across the film’s Wikipedia page.

Cybersecurity writer at Atlas VPN, Vilius Kardelis, shares his thoughts on internet trends:

“In a media landscape where attention spans are short, the August 2023 Wikipedia data provides a snapshot into what held the internet’s focus, even for just a brief moment. For now, these pages offer a window into the culture and curiosities that defined the internet experience last month.”

To read the full article, head over to:

https://atlasvpn.com/blog/oppenheimer-and-indian-films-lead-august-internet-trends

As the 2023 academic year kicks off, schools across the globe are facing an escalating cybersecurity crisis, the Atlas VPN team reports. 

Data shows the education sector is the most targeted industry by cybercriminals, primarily motivated by the high percentage of schools choosing to pay the ransom.

A recent Sophos survey of 3,000 IT and cybersecurity leaders across 14 countries, including 400 from the education sector, conducted in January-March 2023, reveals that 80% of lower education providers and 79% of higher education institutions reported ransomware attacks in the last year. 

Construction (71%), the federal government (70%), and media & entertainment (70%) are also within the top five most targeted industries by ransomware attacks, but at a notably lower rate than educational establishments.

The vulnerability landscape

The survey identifies compromised credentials and exploited vulnerabilities as the top root causes of ransomware attacks in education. 

In lower education, 36% of attacks originated from compromised credentials, while in higher education, 40% were due to exploited vulnerabilities. 

These figures indicate a need for robust cybersecurity measures and employee training in educational institutions.

Financial and operational costs

While the immediate financial cost of a ransomware attack is evident, the recovery from the attack also includes the cost of system downtime, loss of productivity, and reputational damage. 

The mean cost to recover from ransomware attacks across all sectors is estimated at $1.82 million, an increase from the $1.4 million in 2022.

In lower education, the recovery costs have remained steady at around $1.59 million in 2023 and 2022. 

Recovery costs in higher education have decreased significantly from the $1.42 million reported last year to just over $1 million in 2023.

Governmental interventions

Meanwhile, On August 7, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration released a statement outlining new efforts to strengthen America’s K-12 schools’ cybersecurity. 

The new initiatives aim to provide up to $200 million over three years to bolster cyber defenses in K-12 schools. 

A Government Coordinating Council will also be established to facilitate communication between federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial education leaders to enhance US schools’ cyber defenses and resilience.

To read the full report, head over to:
https://atlasvpn.com/blog/80-of-education-providers-hit-with-ransomware-last-year-biden-administration-responds 

Big tech companies talk a big game about privacy and freedom of expression, but their policies and practices often undermine it.

According to the data presented by the Atlas VPN team, Twitter scored the best on its policies and practices affecting people’s rights to freedom of expression and privacy. While Amazon and Tencent got the worst ratings for their actions on people’s digital rights. However, none of the companies earned a passing grade.

Twitter (currently X) received the best score of 56% on practices and policies they have on governance, freedom of expression, and privacy. The company took the top spot for its detailed content policies and public data about moderation of user-generated content.

Yahoo got 54% on the digital rights scorecard. Microsoft received 50% on its practices and policies around digital rights. Microsoft lacks comprehensive policies protecting freedom of expression. 

Google scored 47%, but its score declined for the second straight year due to outdated policies. Meta got 46% despite releasing a new human rights policy. Apple, which often boasts about its privacy commitments, scored 44%. 

On the flip side, Amazon and Tencent scored an awful 25% due to significant shortcomings in policies and practices affecting digital rights.

Cybersecurity writer at Atlas VPN, Vilius Kardelis, shares his thoughts on people’s digital rights:

“Big tech’s relentless data collection and algorithms working without oversight threaten privacy and freedom of expression. Individuals should educate themselves, minimize data sharing, and use privacy tools to take more control of their digital rights in their own hands.”

To read the full article, head over to:

https://atlasvpn.com/blog/big-tech-doesnt-care-about-your-digital-rights

According to the data presented by the Atlas VPN team, in the first half of 2023, there were 49 significant cyber incidents concerning government agencies — a rise of 11% from the same time last year. The attacks affected government bodies in at least 27 countries across the world. 

The analysis is based on the information by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which keeps track of significant cyber incidents. We focused only on cases involving government agencies, their representatives, or contractors. 

This year, government agencies in the United States encountered the greatest number of attacks, with 16% specifically aimed at the country. The extended conflict between Russia and Ukraine has also resulted in a number of cyber incidents against state government entities in the countries.

When it comes to potential perpetrators, Russian hackers are at the forefront, believed to be responsible for approximately 29% of these attacks. Following closely are cybercriminals associated with China, accounting for 18%, while Iran ranks third with 10%.

Government agencies accumulate and store a significant amount of sensitive data, such as personal information about individual citizens. This data can be sold on the dark web or held hostage until a ransom is paid, which makes these agencies an attractive target for cybercriminals.

Apart from monetary motives, roughly a quarter (12) of all cyberattacks targeting government agencies worldwide in 2023 can be attributed to state-linked threat actors engaged in cyberespionage campaigns. Additionally, hacktivist activity played a role, constituting approximately 10% of the recorded incidents within the government sector during the first half of 2023. 

Since 2005, government agencies worldwide have experienced a total of 616 significant cyberattacks. More than half of these — 56% — occurred just in the last five years, including the first half of 2023.

The full report is available here: https://atlasvpn.com/blog/cyberattacks-against-governments-are-on-the-rise-in-2023

Mobile data has become an essential part of daily life for many people worldwide. With smartphones and other web-enabled devices, we now have constant access to information, entertainment, and communication at our fingertips.

According to the data presented by the Atlas VPN team, Latvians and Finnish people use up the most mobile data per month among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. In addition, each Estonian has about 2 mobile broadband subscriptions.

Latvians lead in mobile data usage, averaging nearly 42 gigabytes per month per mobile broadband subscription. Latvia’s high mobile data consumption may be driven by widespread access to high-speed mobile networks in urban areas and unlimited provider data plans.

Finland ranks second globally in monthly mobile data use, with citizens browsing away 41 gigabytes on average.

Austria has the third-highest rate of mobile data consumption, averaging around 30 gigabytes per month. Lithuanians also rank high in mobile data usage, browsing through 28 gigabytes monthly on average. Iceland demonstrates high mobile data consumption for its population as well, with citizens using 24 gigabytes per month on average.

The average mobile data usage among OECD countries is almost 9 gigabytes. Countries like the United States, UK, and Germany all fall below this average.

Cybersecurity writer at Atlas VPN, Vilius Kardelis, shares his thoughts on mobile data usage:

“Mobile connectivity is convenient, but it can lead to overuse and dependency. Moderation and balance are essential. As networks continue improving globally, average mobile usage rates will likely rise. The future will undoubtedly bring innovations integrating mobile technology even deeper into our lifestyles.”

Who is most connected?

Analyzing the volume of mobile data consumption reveals fascinating insights. However, looking at mobile broadband subscription rates per 100 inhabitants provides further knowledge on how much people browse.

Each Estonian has about 2 mobile broadband subscriptions. Estonia’s citizens extensively use mobile networks not just for smartphones but also for other internet-connected devices. 

Japan likewise has extremely high mobile broadband penetration, with citizens subscribed to nearly 2 mobile networks on average. The United States ranks third, with an average of 1.8 mobile broadband subscriptions per citizen.

Finland, which is second in mobile data consumption, has a broadband subscription rate of 1.6 per person. At the same time, Israel and Denmark demonstrate a rate of 1.4 mobile broadband subscriptions per citizen.

To read the full article, head over to: https://atlasvpn.com/blog/latvians-and-finnish-use-the-most-mobile-data

With International VPN Day just around the corner, Atlas VPN presents the latest VPN adoption trends across the globe. During the first half of 2023, global VPN downloads reached 130 million, but where was VPN usage most prominent? With International VPN Day just around the corner, Atlas VPN presents the latest VPN adoption trends across the globe. During the first half of 2023, global VPN downloads reached 130 million, but where was VPN usage most prominent? 

Atlas VPN research team analyzed and ranked 85 countries in terms of VPN usage from 2020 to H1 2023. The VPN penetration rate was calculated by summing up VPN downloads by country and dividing them by the country’s population. The VPN download data was extracted from Google Play and Apple App Store using Sensor Tower and AppTweak services. Download data includes the 45 biggest VPN providers.

See the full VPN Adoption dataset here. 

In H1 2023, Singapore stood as the torchbearer of VPN adoption, with over 1.1 million downloads among its population of 5.85 million, representing a VPN adoption index of 19.32%. People in Singapore use VPNs for various reasons, includng privacy concerns, security needs, and the desire to access restricted content.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) secured the second position with 16.94% VPN adoption in H1 2023. Qatar users also continue to be fond of VPN services, with a 15.33% adoption rate.

As expected, Saudi Arabia is among the countries with the highest VPN usage, recording an 11.02% adoption rate.

This consistently high VPN penetration in the Gulf region is caused by strict internet censorship regulations that restrict access to certain websites, social media platforms, and content deemed culturally or politically sensitive.

European landscape: growing interest

The Netherlands witnessed consistent adoption, with a 10.43% rate in H1 2023, suggesting a well-informed populace prioritizing online security. Similarly, the UK displayed a 7.23% adoption rate in H1 2023, indicating that a significant portion of its population recognizes the value of VPNs.

Luxembourg’s adoption rate of 7.09% in H1 2023 shows the country’s continued interest in VPNs. France maintains a notable adoption index of 6.92% and, like many other EU countries, experienced a growth trajectory over the years, reflecting the broader trend of Europeans embracing VPNs.

Conclusion

The journey through VPN adoption from 2020 to H1 2023 presents a fascinating narrative of global digital awareness. The data underscores the heightened awareness of digital privacy, online security, and the significance of maintaining control over one’s online identity. 

Nations like Singapore and the UAE have emerged as trailblazers in VPN adoption, while other countries have shown steady growth.

To see the full VPN Adoption campaign by Atlas VPN, please click here. 

Data analyzed by Atlas VPN reveals the threat of credit bureau scams has escalated, leading to an alarming rise in cases of identity theft and financial fraud.  

This article delves into the evolving landscape of credit bureau scams, integrating data provided by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) spanning from the first quarter of 2019 to the second quarter of 2023.  

During the first half of this year, the FTC has already received 517,128 credit bureau fraud reports, a record amount since the start of the reporting period in 2019. 

 The data for 2019 shows a relatively modest start with 35,853 credit bureau fraud reports in the first quarter. However, by the end of the year, the numbers had risen to 42,285—an increase of nearly 18% in four quarters. This precursor hinted at the looming escalation of credit bureau scams that would follow in the subsequent years. 

The year 2020 witnessed an abrupt surge in credit bureau fraud reports, reflecting a global shift towards remote operations and heightened digital interactions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starting at 53,945 reports in Q1, the numbers swelled to 101,850 by Q4—a staggering 89% increase. This surge can be attributed to the heightened vulnerability of individuals to phishing attacks and data breaches as scammers capitalized on the pandemic-induced confusion. 

As the pandemic persisted into 2021, the number of credit bureau fraud reports remained consistently high. Q1 of 2021 saw a substantial increase to 141,613 reports, marking a 39% rise from the previous quarter. While the numbers remained elevated, the increase was not as pronounced as the previous year. This trend suggested that individuals and institutions were adapting to the new digital landscape and implementing more stringent security measures. 

The year 2022 displayed a pattern of gradual escalation and refinement in scam techniques. With 192,547 reports in Q4, an increase of nearly 49% from the beginning of the year, scammers were evidently honing their strategies to exploit the evolving digital landscape. This might indicate a shift towards more sophisticated approaches, targeting unsuspecting victims using innovative tactics like spear phishing and AI-generated scam messages. 

The first half of 2023 exhibited an alarming growth in credit bureau fraud, with 243,293 reports in the first quarter and 273,835 in the second. This surge likely reflects fraudsters capitalizing on an increased reliance on digital transactions, remote work arrangements, and a growing pool of leaked data.

The Anatomy of credit bureau scams 

Fraudsters gather personal data from various sources, including data breaches, social media profiles, phishing emails, or even dumpster diving for discarded documents. This information may include full names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and financial details. 

Armed with stolen information, scammers proceed to create false identities or fictitious accounts with the credit bureaus. They pose as legitimate individuals and submit fraudulent applications for credit cards, loans, or other financial services. 

Once the fake accounts are established, the fraudsters regularly monitor the credit reports of their victims. They keep track of credit scores and activities, ensuring that the deception remains undetected. 

With access to the victim’s credit lines, the scammers go on a spending spree, amassing debts on the fraudulent accounts. These expenses may include lavish purchases, cash advances, or transferring funds to offshore accounts. 

To avoid arousing suspicion, fraudsters often make minimum payments on fraudulent accounts, disguising the true nature of their activities. They may also use techniques like ‘bust-out fraud,’ where they max out credit limits and abandon the accounts before moving on to new ones. 

As the debts accumulate, the victim’s credit score plummets, causing significant damage to their financial standing and reputation. The burden of repaying debts they never incurred can take years to resolve, causing emotional distress and financial hardship. 

To read the full article, head over to: https://atlasvpn.com/blog/credit-bureau-fraud-surged-to-500-000-cases-in-h1-2023-ftc-reports