The latest Gen Threat Report for the fourth quarter of 2024 highlights a significant increase in online threats worldwide. Between October and December, Gen blocked 2.55 billion attacks globally. The Czech Republic ranks among the top three countries with the highest risk of online fraud.
Gen™ (NASDAQ: GEN), a global leader in cybersecurity solutions and the maker of products such as Avast, AVG, Norton, Avira, and CCleaner, has released its Gen Threat Report for Q4 2024. The number of online threats surged during this period: from October to December, Gen blocked a total of 2.55 billion attacks, averaging 321 threats per second. 86% of the blocked threats were based on social engineering methods.
The Czech Republic is ranked among the top three countries with the highest fraud risk globally – only Slovakia and Vietnam exhibit a higher risk. Scams on dating platforms are particularly prevalent, with both the Czech Republic and Slovakia being among the ten most affected countries.
Fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated
“Fraud is more dangerous than ever because it subtly integrates into our digital lives – often right before our eyes,” explains Siggi Stefnisson, Chief Technology Officer for Cybersecurity at Gen. “In the past quarter, fraudsters specifically targeted human emotions – for example, during the holidays, in an effort to find ‘the one’ before the end of the year. As a result, many people not only lose money, but also control over their personal data.”
Fraudsters are using ever more sophisticated techniques to deceive their victims. In Q4 2024, the number of phishing attacks increased by 14%. Many of these scams occur on social platforms or disguise themselves as well-known brands such as Apple iCloud, sending fake invoices via email. Malvertising, or malicious online advertising, remained the most common method for spreading malware, accounting for 41% of all blocked attacks.
Social Networks Are Particularly Affected
Facebook was by far the most dangerous platform, with 56% of all registered threats. YouTube followed with 24%, and X (formerly Twitter) accounted for 10% of the threats. Messenger services are also a popular target. Telegram recorded six times as many threats as WhatsApp, as the platform’s privacy features make it easier for criminals to remain undetected.
Gen expects a further increase in these threats for 2025, as the growing use of artificial intelligence will continue to evolve the methods used by cybercriminals.
