Phishing threats in 2025 and Atlaslive cybersecurity review

Phishing continues to dominate the global cybersecurity threat landscape. Data collected by the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) revealed that in the first quarter of 2025 alone, there were 1,003,924 recorded phishing attacks, marking the highest figure since the end of 2023. This represents a substantial escalation compared with previous years. Weekly phishing volumes have risen by approximately 180% compared to 2023, while the use of infostealers—malicious tools distributed through phishing emails—rose by 84% during 2024.

The implications are clear: phishing is no longer a background nuisance but has evolved into one of the most effective and direct avenues for credential theft, unauthorized account access, and significant disruption of business operations.

Atlaslive’s Information Security Lead, Maksym Shapoval, emphasized why these attacks continue to succeed and what proactive strategies organizations can adopt to counter them. According to him, the key danger lies in phishing’s ability to exploit human trust as well as systemic weaknesses.

Why phishing remains so effective

Phishing succeeds because of its deceptive simplicity. Attackers impersonate trusted institutions or corporate contacts, sending emails, text messages, or even making phone calls designed to persuade recipients to reveal passwords, financial data, or other confidential information.

This social engineering tactic has expanded beyond traditional email to include smishing (SMS-based phishing) and vishing (voice phishing). Many of these campaigns are indistinguishable from genuine corporate or governmental messages, making it extremely difficult for ordinary users to recognize fraudulent attempts.

High-profile phishing cases in recent years

A series of recent incidents illustrates how phishing continues to affect diverse sectors:

• Google — An attack chain beginning with Salesforce CRM impersonation resulted in the exposure of sensitive data.
• Cisco — Fell victim to a vishing campaign that gave cybercriminals unauthorized access to client information.
• Booking — Has been the target of ongoing phishing waves since late 2024.
• UK Tax Authority — Reported financial losses exceeding £47 million, with more than 100,000 individuals affected by fraudulent schemes.

These incidents demonstrate that no sector—whether technology, finance, travel, or government—is immune from phishing-related harm.

The iGaming industry as a target

The iGaming sector has been particularly vulnerable due to its online nature, reliance on financial transactions, and handling of large volumes of personal data. In July 2025, one of the largest global betting groups confirmed that it had suffered a significant breach, exposing the records of approximately 800,000 users. The compromised data included IP addresses, email details, and platform activity logs.

Commenting on the incident, Maksym Shapoval explained:

“The incident underscores why iGaming platforms are prime targets. They operate entirely online, process constant financial transactions, and handle vast volumes of personal data. The risks of social engineering attacks in this industry are significant.”

The case serves as a reminder that cybercriminals are likely to exploit industries where financial data and personal information are most concentrated. For iGaming operators, phishing protection must not only be embedded into technical defenses but also integrated into staff training and governance policies.

How phishing exploits both people and systems

Unlike many cyberattacks that rely exclusively on software vulnerabilities, phishing targets human behavior as much as technological weaknesses. A well-crafted phishing email can bypass sophisticated firewalls if an employee unknowingly clicks on a malicious link.

This dual exploitation makes phishing particularly dangerous because it requires businesses to prepare on multiple fronts: technological infrastructure, staff awareness, and incident response procedures.

Multi-layered defenses against phishing

Atlaslive highlights that reducing exposure to phishing requires a multi-layered defense strategy. Key recommendations include:

Authentication and access control

• Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all critical accounts.
• Restrict privileges so that employees only have the access strictly necessary for their roles.
• Segment networks to contain potential intrusions.
• Require dual approval for sensitive operations.
• Conduct regular audits to ensure compliance.

Email and domain security

• Implement DMARC, DKIM, and SPF to authenticate email sources.
• Monitor the internet for lookalike domains designed to deceive users.
• Flag external communications so employees can exercise caution.

Endpoint protection

• Secure staff devices using Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions.
• Monitor browsing activity and restrict access to suspicious domains.

Incident preparedness

• Establish a centralized reporting system for suspected phishing attempts.
• Create detailed runbooks to guide response actions.
• Rapidly notify employees when new campaigns are detected.
• Block malicious senders across all company systems.

Awareness and training

• Conduct regular employee training sessions on recognizing phishing attempts.
• Run phishing simulations to test employee readiness.
• Foster a culture that encourages staff to report suspicious activity immediately.

Governance and oversight

• Integrate phishing defense into the company’s permanent security policy.
• Perform continuous audits and reviews of anti-phishing measures.

According to Atlaslive, these small yet consistent practices significantly reduce both the likelihood of a successful attack and the potential impact if an incident does occur.

Lessons from the summer of 2025

The first half of 2025 reinforced the reality that phishing remains a central driver of global cyber incidents. From multinational technology firms to public sector institutions and iGaming operators, organizations across industries experienced breaches with significant reputational and financial consequences.

These attacks are not only becoming more frequent but also more sophisticated. Attackers now rely on advanced automation, generative content, and artificial intelligence tools to craft convincing phishing messages at scale. This trend increases the importance of maintaining proactive and resilient cybersecurity strategies.

The importance of resilience in business strategy

For organizations dealing with sensitive transactions and personal data, cybersecurity must not be treated as optional. Failure to prioritize phishing defense exposes companies to legal risks, financial penalties, reputational harm, and potential regulatory scrutiny.

Businesses that invest in layered authentication, email security, endpoint protections, workforce training, and structured incident response plans are better positioned to safeguard both customers and corporate reputation. In a competitive digital marketplace, resilience is increasingly becoming a differentiator that determines which companies can sustain trust and long-term growth.

About Atlaslive

Atlaslive, formerly known as Atlas-IAC, underwent a rebranding campaign in May 2024. The company is a B2B software development provider specializing in multifunctional and automated platforms designed to optimize the workflows of sports betting and casino operators.

Key elements of the Atlaslive Platform include:

• Sportsbook solutions
• Casino integration
• Risk management and anti-fraud tools
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Bonus engine
• Business analytics modules
• Payment systems
• Retail module

Atlaslive continues to provide technological solutions aimed at improving efficiency, security, and scalability for iGaming operators. The company emphasizes the importance of security not only as a compliance measure but as a fundamental component of sustainable growth in the online gaming industry.

Disclaimer

This article is intended solely for informational and discussion purposes. It has been compiled by the Atlaslive team for marketing use and is based on publicly available sources that Atlaslive believes to be reliable. However, the company does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein and accepts no liability for any loss arising from its use. This document does not constitute legal, financial, or business development advice, nor is it a solicitation to buy or sell gambling-related products.

FAQs

What is phishing and why is it so dangerous?
Phishing is a form of cyberattack where criminals impersonate trusted sources to trick individuals into revealing confidential data. It is dangerous because it bypasses technology by exploiting human behavior.

How many phishing attacks were reported in early 2025?
The Anti-Phishing Working Group recorded 1,003,924 phishing attacks in the first quarter of 2025, the highest level since 2023.

Which industries are most affected by phishing?
Technology firms, government agencies, financial services, and the iGaming industry are among the most affected due to their reliance on online transactions and sensitive data.

What role did phishing play in the iGaming breach of July 2025?
A global betting group confirmed that phishing contributed to a breach exposing 800,000 user records, including email details and platform activity logs.

What is smishing?
Smishing is phishing conducted via text messages, where attackers send fraudulent SMS to trick users into clicking malicious links or providing personal information.

What is vishing?
Vishing refers to phishing conducted over voice calls, where attackers impersonate trusted parties to convince victims to reveal sensitive data.

How can businesses protect themselves from phishing?
Organizations should enforce multi-factor authentication, deploy email security protocols, train employees, and establish clear incident response processes.

Why is phishing considered both a human and technological issue?
Phishing attacks exploit human trust while also leveraging technical weaknesses, meaning defense requires both strong systems and well-informed employees.

What role does governance play in cybersecurity?
Governance ensures that phishing defense becomes a permanent and auditable part of a company’s policy, not just a temporary initiative.

Why is phishing expected to grow more dangerous in the future?
Advancements in automation and artificial intelligence allow attackers to craft more convincing messages at scale, making detection harder and increasing risks.