State of Browser Security 2025: CinchOps Informing Houston Businesses of Alarming Trends and Predictions

The browser has become ground zero for cyberattacks. According to Menlo Security’s “State of Browser Security” report, we’re witnessing an alarming evolution in browser-based threats as attackers move beyond traditional phishing and ransomware delivery to more sophisticated AI-powered techniques.

Over the past 12 months, Menlo Threat Intelligence identified more than 752,000 browser-based phishing attacks spanning more than 800 enterprises—a staggering 140% year-over-year increase. Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting browsers as their primary entry point, recognizing them as the focal point for both business and personal activities.

  The Proliferation of Phishing Sites

The report reveals that by the second half of 2024, cybercriminals were creating nearly one million phishing sites per month—representing nearly 700% growth since 2020. This massive increase demonstrates how phishing has become industrialized, with Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) infrastructure readily available for purchase via platforms like Telegram.

  The Persistent Threat of Credential Phishing

Credential phishing continues to plague enterprises despite massive security investments. Traditional security measures like firewalls, secure web gateways, and antivirus tools remain largely ineffective against sophisticated techniques used by cybercriminals.

The report notes that many enterprises focus on security at the network or endpoint level, which isn’t adequately equipped to combat evasive threats. Additionally, “check-box solutions” like traditional Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) have proven ineffective against sophisticated evasive browser-based phishing attacks such as LURE (Legacy URL Reputation Evasion) attacks.

  Window of Exposure Before Detection

A particularly concerning finding is that the average window of exposure before legacy security tools can detect threats from zero-hour phishing attacks is six days. This nearly week-long gap provides attackers ample time to achieve their objectives before security systems respond.

(Average Windows of Exposure – Source: Menlo Security State of Browser Security Report)

  The Rise of Evasion Techniques

In 2024, there was a 130% increase in zero-hour phishing attacks mounted against enterprises. One in five attacks displayed some form of evasive technique designed to bypass traditional network and endpoint-based security controls.

These evasion techniques include:

• Exploiting browser vulnerabilities
• Obfuscating malicious code
• Employing fileless malware and memory-only payloads
• Hiding malicious activity within seemingly legitimate web traffic

  Brand Impersonation in Phishing Attacks

Nearly 51% of browser-based phishing attacks employed some form of brand impersonation, with Microsoft being the most frequently impersonated brand, followed by Facebook and Netflix. This tactic significantly increases the likelihood of successful exploitation, as users tend to trust sites that visually resemble legitimate businesses.

  Threat Intelligence Insights

Menlo Threat Intelligence reports several alarming trends:

• More than 752,500 browser-based phishing attacks detected over the last 12 months
• Nearly 140% year-over-year increase in these attacks
• Identification of more than 170,000 zero-hour phishing attacks, a 130% increase from 2023
• Nearly 600 incidents identified using GenAI names as imposter sites to exploit victims

  Abuse of Cloud Hosting Services

The report highlights the increasing exploitation of cloud services to host malicious content, including phishing sites, ransomware, and command-and-control (C2) infrastructure. Unlike traditional hosting services, cloud providers are less likely to monitor for illegal activities, making it easier for attackers to “hide in plain sight.”

These platforms can quickly scale, making detection more difficult, while also offering anonymity and resilience that enable attackers to rapidly deploy and move their operations.

(Distribution of Abused Cloud Hosting – Source: Menlo Security State of Browser Security Report)

  Evolving Malware Techniques: Vextrio

The Vextrio campaign demonstrates the growing sophistication of browser-based threats. It leverages advertising networks—infrastructure we often trust—to infect users and gain footholds in enterprise environments. Using JavaScript code obfuscation techniques combined with legitimate-looking ads makes detection difficult for traditional endpoint security solutions.

  Open Water Phishing Campaign

Menlo Threat Intelligence identified a campaign utilizing CloudFlare services with a pre-built phishing kit taglined “Powered by Jehova.” This campaign exposes stolen credentials and sometimes the entire kit on C2 infrastructure. The abuse of hosting services allows operations to scale quickly and cheaply, making the environment more saturated with malicious domains.

  Menlo Security’s Top Five Predictions for 2025

1. Ransomware Will Remain Prolific: Cybercriminals will increasingly use browser-based attacks to deploy ransomware, particularly targeting critical infrastructure sectors like healthcare, energy, and transportation.
2. AI-Driven Deepfakes Will Bypass Traditional Security: AI-driven cyber fraud will make distinguishing between legitimate and malicious sites increasingly difficult. Deepfakes impersonating trusted brands and individuals will fuel targeted phishing and credential theft.
3. Widening Cyber Gap Between Enterprises: Small businesses will remain vulnerable due to their inability to effectively monitor user behavior and provide dynamic security controls, while larger enterprises will incorporate more AI into their security tooling.
4. Growing Threats to Edge and IoT Devices: These devices will become prime targets for cybercriminals due to their often limited security measures, with zero-day vulnerabilities increasingly exploited in the wild.
5. Remote and Hybrid Environments Will Exacerbate Insider Threats: Insider threats will increasingly originate from well-intentioned users who fall victim to sophisticated targeted attacks, with remote work environments exacerbating this risk.

  How CinchOps Can Secure Your Company

In this increasingly dangerous environment, CinchOps offers comprehensive browser security solutions that protect your organization from these evolving threats. Our approach includes:

• Secure cloud browsing that physically isolates and separates users’ browsing activity from your network
• AI-driven runtime analysis to detect and prevent evasive phishing attempts
• Dynamic security controls that protect users from credential theft and social engineering attacks
• Zero-trust access implementation that is simple to deploy and manage

Discover more about our enterprise-grade and business protecting cybersecurity services on our Cybersecurity page.

With CinchOps’ advanced browser security solutions, you can work without worry and move your business forward with confidence in today’s challenging threat environment.

Contact CinchOps today to learn how we can help secure your organization against the next generation of browser-based threats.

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