Zimperium’s Mishing Report highlights the evolution of mobile-specific phishing attacks, known as "mishing," which exploit the unique vulnerabilities of mobile devices. As cybercriminals adopt a mobile-first strategy, mishing has emerged as a distinct threat category, leveraging social engineering and mobile-specific features such as limited screen size, touch-based interfaces, and trusted messaging channels like SMS and QR codes. These attacks target both personal and professional data, exploiting the “human error” factor in smartphone usage.

The report shows a significant escalation in mishing campaigns throughout 2024, with peaks in mid-year activity and identifies key mishing attack vectors, including smishing (SMS-based phishing), quishing (QR code phishing), and mobile-targeted email phishing. Zimperium’s analysis reveals a sophisticated phishing ecosystem, with attackers employing device-aware tactics to bypass desktop-based security tools and leveraging shared infrastructure to target multiple sectors, including financial institutions and technology companies.

As mishing continues to evolve, organizations must combat this growing threat and adapt their defenses to address the unique challenges posed by mobile-targeted phishing campaigns. Read the report to learn more about the latest mishing attacks and how to protect against them.