Researchers discovered an unexpected decrease in ransomware distribution during the first quarter of 2017, according to a PhishMe report.
In the report, titled "Q1 2017 Malware Review," PhishMe analyzed 749 sets of phishing emails that delivered almost 10,000 unique malware types in the first quarter.
Here are three insights into cyberthreat trends during first quarter 2017.
1. In the first quarter, ransomware distribution was down 44.9 percent compared to fourth quarter 2016. However, PhishMe noted an increase in ransomware infections during the second quarter 2017, including a resurgence of Locky ransomware and the worldwide WannaCry attack.
2. There was a 69.2 percent increase in botnet activity during the first quarter. Cybercriminals often use botnets — or networks of remotely-controlled, malware-infected devices — for long-term surveillance or espionage operations, according to PhishMe.
3. By analyzing language and dialect in phishing emails, PhishMe also identified an increase in international malware delivery. The company noted some of the largest malware campaigns targeted German-, Italian- and Japanese-speaking groups.
Click here to view the full report.