Agentic AI transforms cybercrime, enabling autonomous phishing attacks at scale. Organizations must understand this emerging threat and implement advanced defenses like digital risk protection and threat intelligence to stay secure.  

A Fraudster’s Dream Scenario

Put yourself in the shoes of a cybercriminal. Running “Fraud Inc.” is exhausting. You need teams to build convincing websites, post fake marketplace listings, run social media accounts, and lure in victims. Like any business, you plan campaigns around peak shopping seasons, test different approaches, and manage cash flow to keep the operation running. All the while you must stay hidden from investigators like EBRAND and other security firms that work to shut you down. In this business, time is money, so you focus on brands that give you the best return for the longest period, those that take longer to react, have weaker monitoring, and especially those that do not work with firms like EBRAND.

Now imagine replacing that entire workforce with an AI assistant. You give it a single goal such as stealing credentials, impersonating a brand, or draining accounts and it does everything else. No supervision, no breaks, no delays. It works at massive scale, optimises tactics on the fly, and produces professional-grade output. You could be relaxing on a beach with a cocktail while your AI agent runs a full-fledged fraud empire for you. That is the reality of agentic AI, as we’ll explore today. In the meantime, you can also get a free audit to see if agentic AI is threatening your organization right here.

The New Era of Agentic AI Phishing

Agentic AI phishing refers to attacks that use artificial intelligence to make scams more convincing, personalised, and persistent. These systems can analyse vast amounts of data including job history, recent purchases, social media activity, and online habits, and use that information to create messages tailored to a specific individual. A phishing email might reference a recent online order or a press release from the target’s company, making it appear legitimate and relevant.

Unlike generative AI, which focuses on creating content, or analytical AI, which interprets data, agentic AI is designed to make autonomous decisions, set its own actions, and pursue a goal without ongoing human input. This allows it to operate like a self-directed employee, running entire phishing campaigns from reconnaissance to execution while adapting in real time to maximise success.

The sophistication does not end there. Traditional phishing is static and easy to discard, but agentic AI adapts when its first attempt fails. If a target ignores an email, it may try a different channel such as SMS, a messaging app, or a direct approach on social media. It can alter tone, change formatting, and experiment with alternative hooks in an iterative process until it finds one that works.

Exploiting Every Channel

Because agentic AI can discover and exploit new communication vectors, it often finds opportunities that human operators might overlook. It might detect that a target has recently joined a niche social platform or an online forum and craft a phishing message suited to the norms of that space. It can maintain multiple simultaneous identities, operate in different languages, and sustain long-running interactions that gradually build trust with the victim.

Agentic AI in Action: Inside an Modern Phishing Operation

Cybercrime operations now mirror legitimate software services. Platforms like Darcula and Bogus Bazaar provide phishing tools and stolen data through subscription models. Agentic AI supercharges this ecosystem by automating attack creation, allowing even inexperienced criminals to launch sophisticated campaigns. These services lower the barrier to entry while increasing the volume and quality of threats. 

A typical campaign begins with reconnaissance. The AI harvests open-source intelligence and data from breaches, scanning for vulnerabilities in a brand’s security posture. It prioritises targets where takedowns are slow, internal coordination is weak, or monitoring is limited. From there, it builds branded templates, registers convincing domains, and deploys fake websites and accounts.

Once operational, the AI launches campaigns across multiple channels including email, text messages, direct messages on social platforms, and marketplace listings. If a victim engages, the AI converses naturally, adjusting its language and timing to mirror the victim’s habits. It can request sensitive information, guide the victim through fraudulent transactions, or direct them to malware-laden sites. If its infrastructure is disrupted, it rebuilds quickly, often with a modified approach to bypass the same defences that stopped it before.

Why Conventional Defences Struggle

Static email filters cannot keep pace with attacks that evolve dynamically. Human analysts are too slow to match the split-second adaptability of AI. Even well-trained staff can be deceived when messages feel authentic, reference real-world events, and mirror the target’s own style of communication. The attack does not feel like a generic scam, it feels like a legitimate conversation.

Countering Agentic AI Phishing

Defending against this new breed of phishing requires more than awareness training or reactive tools. Organisations need AI-powered detection systems capable of spotting subtle anomalies in language, inspecting URLs in real time, scanning suspicious websites, and cross-referencing activity against live threat intelligence. Proactive digital risk monitoring must extend beyond email into social platforms, marketplaces, and emerging communication channels.

Advanced technology is essential not only for detection but also for coping with the unprecedented scale and quality of these attacks. Instead of a handful of threat vectors from a single actor, we now see tens of thousands of linked cases produced at speed, built at scale using smart algorithms, and virtually indistinguishable from legitimate content at first glance.

User education remains essential but must evolve. Simulated phishing exercises that incorporate AI-generated content can prepare employees for the realism of modern scams. Real-time awareness training can help them recognise not only suspicious messages but also suspicious behaviours across multiple channels.

Governance is equally important. As AI becomes embedded in both legitimate and malicious use cases, organisations must set clear internal guidelines for its adoption, ensure transparency in automated decision-making, and integrate robust security measures into every AI-powered process.

The Role of EBRAND

EBRAND combines AI-driven monitoring with human investigation to identify and neutralise threats before they cause damage. Its approach includes detecting fake accounts, dismantling phishing sites, and monitoring for brand impersonation across both visible and hidden areas of the internet. This fusion of automated speed and investigative depth is essential to counter the fast-changing tactics of AI-enabled fraud.

Organizations need proactive defenses to counter AI-driven phishing. Digital risk protection solutions provide continuous monitoring for impersonation attempts across domains, social media, and the dark web. These systems use AI to detect emerging threats faster than human analysts can, enabling rapid response before damage occurs.  

Specialized security providers offer critical support in this evolving landscape. For example, EBRAND’s Cyber Threat Intelligence services combine AI-powered monitoring with human expertise to identify and neutralize agentic AI threats. Their solutions help organizations detect fake accounts, take down phishing sites, and prevent brand impersonation before it impacts customers.  

Conclusions: The Time to Prepare is Now

Agentic AI is not a distant risk, it is already here, operating at scale and without rest. Criminals now have tools that think, adapt, and refine themselves with every failed attempt. The organisations that will withstand this shift are those that prepare now, with layered defences, integrated intelligence, and rapid incident response.

Time, for both fraudsters and defenders, is the most valuable asset. In the age of agentic AI, the clock always ticks in the attacker’s favour unless you are ready to match their speed. We must all assess our vulnerabilities and strengthen defenses before attackers exploit them. Contact us today for a free AI impersonation audit and discover how to safeguard your business against this new generation of cyber threats. 

The post Are You Ready for Agentic AI? The Next Wave of Phishing  appeared first on EBRAND.

As Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history, famously said: “You cannot overtake 15 cars in sunny weather… but you can when it’s raining.”

Right now, we’re in the rain. From geopolitical instability and inflation to shifting trade rules and tariffs, supply chain bottlenecks, and rising cyber threats, the global business climate is anything but stable. Due to economic pressures, consumers make an effort to look for best bargains and more often consider buying counterfeits or look-alikes. And in that instability lies opportunity – for brands that stay visible, vigilant, and protected.

The high cost of doing nothing – or of doing too little

When counterfeiters, scammers, and bad actors become more active during downturns, the greatest risk isn’t action – it’s inaction. And that risk is no longer theoretical.

According to the EUIPO, counterfeit spirits and wine alone account for more than €1.3 billion in lost annual sales across the EU. That’s 3.3% of the sector’s entire revenue base – without even considering imports or losses from counterfeiting in non – EU markets. Add in broader impacts on the economy and government revenue, and the total climbs to €3 billion in losses and over 23,000 jobs affected. And this is just one industry.

Across sectors – from electronics to fashion, from pharmaceuticals to cosmetics – the share of counterfeits can reach up to or sometimes more than 10% of the total market. These aren’t isolated incidents. They’re part of vast, coordinated criminal networks operating across marketplaces, social media, and private messaging platforms.

Doing nothing doesn’t protect your brand. It invites erosion  –  of revenue, reputation, and trust.

How protecting brands helps grow your business

In uncertain times, the best brands don’t just hold the line – they double down on clarity, control, and customer trust. At EBRAND, we help companies take that step forward with an integrated approach to brand protection, digital risk monitoring, and domain management.

It’s not about reaction. It’s about strategy.

Our Online Brand Protection platform, powered by ARGOS, goes far beyond simple takedowns. We conduct deep – dive investigations into large – scale infringement operations – identifying clusters of counterfeit sellers, uncovering patterns, and connecting the dots across websites, seller accounts, and even logistics networks. This lets our clients target the source, not just the symptoms.

Rather than chasing thousands of low-level sellers, we’re protecting brands by focusing on the real damage: the repeat offenders, the large – scale counterfeit networks, and the organized operators behind global revenue loss.

We work closely with legal teams, platforms, and local enforcement authorities to bring meaningful enforcement action – not just delisting, but sustained disruption.

Digital risk is business risk

Meanwhile, the digital threat landscape is becoming increasingly aggressive – and increasingly invisible.

With our Digital Risk Protection solution X-RAY, EBRAND scans the surface web, deep web, and dark web for threats that impact brand reputation, consumer safety, and executive security. That includes phishing sites, impersonation attacks, leaked credentials, and fraud rings operating across encrypted platforms like Telegram or private Discord servers.

What sets our approach apart is contextual intelligence. Instead of flagging isolated threats, we identify relationships – clusters of phishing campaigns, coordinated misinformation attacks, or impersonation activity that spans channels. You get real – time alerts, clear attribution, and the ability to prioritize threats that matter most to your business and your customers.

Owning the digital front line

It’s easy to overlook your domain portfolio when budgets are tight. But for many brands, their domain strategy is the first line of defense – and a critical asset that underpins global operations.

Our Corporate Domain Management service gives businesses the structure and oversight needed to secure digital perimeters. That means consolidating domain holdings across markets, protecting against DNS hijacking, and monitoring for abuse at scale. In an environment where impersonation and cybersquatting can spark brand and legal crises overnight, these aren’t IT tasks – they’re business – critical.

We also support clients during M&A, product launches, and geographic expansion to ensure their digital assets reflect their strategy – securely and efficiently.

Overtaking in the rain: Protecting brands in market turmoil

The real opportunity of tough times isn’t in playing defense – it’s in playing smarter. While others hesitate, resilient brands invest in visibility, resilience, and control. And when the market rebounds, they’re already in front.

At EBRAND, we help businesses take the lead in protecting brands when others are just trying to stay on track:

• By monitoring risk across the visible and invisible web with real – time intelligence
• By investigating complex infringement networks and removing them at the root
• By defending digital territory with comprehensive, global solutions, supported by local experts

The brands that will grow in the next decade are those who protect what matters – not when the skies clear, but while the storm is still overhead.

The post “You can when it’s raining” – Protecting brands in market turmoil appeared first on EBRAND.

Maar dit verhaal is slechts één radertje in de wereldwijde fake shop-machine. Duizenden vergelijkbare criminele netwerken runnen nepwebshops wereldwijd en profiteren van de snelle groei van online shopping. Steeds vaker gebruiken oplichters geavanceerde technologieën zoals Generative AI, waardoor valse sites bijna niet meer van echt te onderscheiden zijn. Dit nieuwe level van verfijning betekent dat consumenten alerter dan ooit moeten zijn om niet in de val te trappen.

Hoe werken fake internet shopping sites?

De bedriegers achter deze frauduleuze webshops imiteren vaak populaire merken en producten en bieden grote kortingen om consumenten te verleiden gevoelige gegevens of betalingen af te staan. In het recent ontdekte geval kopieerden duizenden valse sites luxemerken en leverden ze helemaal niets of namaakproducten. Zo kregen sommige shoppers, zoals The Guardian meldde, goedkope zonnebrillen of nepjuwelen in plaats van de bestelde luxe artikelen.

Met AI-driven tools kunnen oplichters content van echte websites schrapen en hun design nabouwen, waardoor het voor consumenten extreem moeilijk wordt om een fake site van een echte te onderscheiden. Deze sites zien er niet alleen professioneel uit, maar gebruiken ook AI om overtuigende productbeschrijvingen, reviews en zelfs gepersonaliseerde marketing te genereren, waardoor de misleiding nog geloofwaardiger wordt.

Daarnaast maken deze oplichters gebruik van verlopen of inactieve domeinnamen om hun frauduleuze shops te hosten, wat handmatige detectie bemoeilijkt. Het onderzoek toonde aan dat meer dan 22.500 van deze valse websites nog steeds actief zijn en onwetende kopers blijven misleiden. Het franchise-achtige model van de scam maakt het mogelijk om snel fake shops in meerdere talen en markten te lanceren.

Vergelijkbare operaties duiken overal op, waarbij ze profiteren van goedkope domeinregistraties en geautomatiseerde tools om nieuwe scam-sites in razend tempo te creëren. De fake shop-epidemie richt zich niet alleen op luxemerken, maar breidt zich ook uit naar alledaagse producten zoals speelgoed, elektronica en zelfs boodschappen.

Red flags om op te letten

Ondanks de toenemende verfijning van fake shopping sites, zijn er nog steeds signalen die kunnen helpen om deze frauduleuze platforms te herkennen:

• Onrealistische kortingen: Als de prijs te mooi lijkt om waar te zijn, is dat meestal ook zo. Extreme kortingen op luxemerken zijn vaak een teken van een scam.
• Drukzetten: Fake shops pushen je om snel te handelen met termen als “limited stock” of “flash sale”.
• Geen duidelijke contactgegevens: Legale businesses bieden meestal transparante contactinformatie. Ontbreekt dit, dan is dat een waarschuwing.
• Geen SSL/HTTPS: Een veilige website begint met “https://” in de URL. Ontbreekt dit, wees dan alert.
• Amateuristisch design: Hoewel veel fake shops professioneel ogen, hebben sommige nog steeds gebroken links, slordige layouts of ontbrekende cookiebanners.

Ook al worden deze sites steeds overtuigender, deze signalen kunnen je helpen om niet in de val te trappen. Hier vind je een uitgebreide guide van onze experts over het herkennen en melden van fake shops.

De impact op consumenten en bedrijven

Fake shopping sites stelen niet alleen geld van nietsvermoedende kopers—ze verzamelen ook persoonlijke data, die voor verdere fraude of verkoop aan criminele netwerken gebruikt kan worden. Experts in The Guardian-onderzoek waarschuwen dat gestolen gegevens kunnen leiden tot bankaccount hacks of phishingpogingen. In sommige gevallen belandt deze data zelfs bij buitenlandse inlichtingendiensten, wat extra risico’s meebrengt.

Voor bedrijven zijn de gevolgen net zo ernstig. Fake shops tasten de reputatie aan, stelen intellectueel eigendom en halen potentiële omzet weg. Elke keer dat een consument wordt misleid door een valse site, krijgt het vertrouwen in het merk een deuk.

Met AI-driven tools wordt het voor bedrijven steeds lastiger om hun intellectual property te beschermen en brand impersonation tegen te gaan. De combinatie van AI, geavanceerde designtechnieken en grootschalige verspreiding van fake shops zorgt voor een perfect storm van online fraude waar bedrijven nu mee moeten dealen. Vanwege de risico’s die fake shops vormen, beheren verschillende lokale en internationale organisaties fake shop finders en fake shop lists om het publiek te helpen frauduleuze platforms te herkennen en te melden. Maar merken zelf hebben uitgebreidere oplossingen nodig om het probleem bij de wortel aan te pakken.

Stappen om fake shopping sites te bestrijden

De strijd tegen fake shops vereist een gecoördineerde aanpak van consumenten, bedrijven en techplatforms. Dit kunnen partijen doen:

1. Research: Zoek altijd naar reviews en klachten voordat je bij een onbekende website bestelt. Oplichters maken vaak meerdere fake shops aan, dus blijf geïnformeerd.
2. Monitor: Voor bedrijven helpt het monitoren van verdachte websites om bewijs te verzamelen en de evolutie van frauduleuze sites te volgen. Deze data is cruciaal voor juridische stappen of takedown-verzoeken.
3. Take Action: Social media en zoekmachines bieden tools om frauduleuze content te melden. Voor sites die je merk nabootsen, kunnen juridische maatregelen zoals UDRP (Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy) of DMCA-takedowns nodig zijn.

Het Guardian-rapport benadrukt de groeiende noodzaak van een wereldwijde, gecoördineerde aanpak. Overheden, bedrijven en consumenten moeten samenwerken om deze netwerken te ontmantelen.

Tegelijkertijd moeten merken hun beschermingsstrategieën versterken door te investeren in anti-fraud technology, monitoring te verbeteren en juridische middelen in te zetten. Zo kunnen ze hun intellectual property, omzet en klanten beschermen in een steeds riskantere online omgeving.

Bescherm jezelf als shopper

Neem deze extra stappen voordat je bij een onbekende website koopt:

• Check reviews: Zoek online naar klachten of ervaringen. Zijn er waarschuwingen, dan is dat een signaal.
• Controleer de URL: Let op spelfouten of afwijkende domeinnamen. Scammers gebruiken vaak look-alike URLs.
• Veilige betaling: Zorg dat de site https:// gebruikt en betrouwbare betaalmethoden aanbiedt.
• Blijf bij bekende shops: Twijfel je? Koop dan rechtstreeks bij gevestigde webwinkels.

Conclusie: De controle terugpakken

Het recente onderzoek naar een van de grootste online shopping scams ter wereld onderstreept de omvang van de dreiging. Maar deze scam is slechts één voorbeeld in de wereldwijde fake shop-epidemie. Fake internet shopping sites worden elke dag geavanceerder, vooral door Generative AI en andere technologieën die ze bijna niet van echt te onderscheiden maken.

Bedrijven moeten investeren in geavanceerde tools, juridische ondersteuning en monitoring om frauduleuze sites op te sporen en offline te halen. Consumenten moeten alert blijven en altijd checken of een webshop legitiem is. Samen kunnen we de impact van fake shops verminderen en persoonlijke én financiële veiligheid in de digitale marktplaats waarborgen.

The post De Fake Shops Epidemie: Hoe We Kunnen Terugslaan appeared first on EBRAND.

Now is the time for brand owners to start evaluating the upcoming opportunity. Learn how you can get ready, using the EBRAND New gTLD and .brand solutions and consulting services.

Tale 1: The Brand That Should Not Have Registered the New gTLD, But Did

Our first story takes us to an B2B company with an abbreviation as its name. This name also happened to be an English word, making it commonly used by other businesses and third parties. When the new gTLDs became available, the company’s legal team immediately pushed for the registration of a .brand domain. Their motivation was simple: they feared someone else might register the same string, potentially diluting their brand or damaging their reputation.

But there was a problem. The decision to register the gTLD was driven entirely by the legal department, with no support from other critical teams like marketing or communications. No one stopped to ask whether the gTLD fit the company’s long-term goals or whether it aligned with the brand’s digital strategy. Once the new gTLD was registered and delegated, a key question arose: Now what?

What’s Next: Implementing a .brand New gTLD

The company lacked a clear plan for how to use the .brand domain effectively. The IT department raised concerns about integrating the new domain into existing systems, while the marketing team had no focus or creative ideas on how to leverage the new gTLD for customer engagement or brand growth. To appease management, a few internal pages were created, and some low-effort promotional campaigns were launched, but without a coherent strategy, the domain quickly became a neglected asset with no tangible value added to the company.

Unfortunately, this is an all too common story. Many brands that registered new gTLDs in the last phase did so out of fear, without a comprehensive plan. As a result, these new gTLDs were either underutilized or abandoned altogether.

The Lesson

Businesses should never register a new gTLD out of fear. The success of a .brand domain depends on collaboration between all stakeholders—legal, marketing, IT, and communications—and on recognizing the strategic opportunities it presents. When a company registers a new gTLD without a clear plan for its use, it risks wasting resources and missing out on the potential benefits a .brand domain can offer.

Tale 2: The Company That Should Have Registered a .Brand, But Didn’t

Now let’s look at the opposite scenario: a company that didn’t register a new gTLD, but should have. Imagine you’re the head of digital marketing at a major international sports brand. Your brand is globally recognized, and you have a loyal customer base. In 2012, the opportunity arises to create your own .brand gTLD, but instead of seizing this chance, the digital marketing team decides it’s not worth the investment. The idea isn’t even presented to senior management, with the team deciding the existing domain setup is sufficient.

But what if they had taken the leap?

With their own .brand gTLD, this sports company could have transformed its digital presence and strategy. The possibilities were vast:

• They could have created dedicated, branded domains for each sport they specialize in, such as football.brand or tennis.brand, giving customers a personalized and unique experience. This would have allowed them to deliver targeted content, promotions, and events, something legacy TLDs couldn’t offer as easily or cost effectively. 
• By establishing a network of authorized resellers under resellername.brand, the company could have unified its brand presence across partners, strengthening consumer trust and enabling partners to optimize their online sales. Shoppers would know that any product sold under the .brand extension was authentic and authorized, helping to combat counterfeit products and grey-market sales.
• They could have educated their customers to always look for official products through .brand domains. Over time, this could have become a powerful brand protection mechanism, ensuring quality and safety for consumers, by effectively combating online fraud and crime. 
• Imagine also offering VIP customers their own personalized domain spaces, like customername.brand, allowing the company to engage directly with top clients by distributing exclusive content, early access to product launches, and more. This could have deepened customer loyalty and built stronger connections between the brand and its most dedicated consumers.

The potential to revolutionize digital marketing was enormous. Yet, by not registering the new gTLD, this sports brand missed the chance to create an innovative, future-proof digital landscape that could have set them apart from competitors.

The Lesson

Sometimes, the most valuable opportunities are the ones we fail to act on. For companies who focus on digital marketing, customer engagement, and brand protection, a .brand unlocks new possibilities. In this case, by failing to register the new gTLD, the company left untapped potential on the table and missed the opportunity to lead their industry in digital innovation.

Conclusion: The Strategic Approach to New gTLDs

The stories of these two companies illustrate the importance strategic, thoughtful approaches to new gTLD registrations. A .brand offers immense value, but only when teams treat it as a long-term asset that enhances the company’s brand presence, customer engagement, and digital security.

Before deciding to register a new gTLD, businesses should ask themselves:

• Do we have support from key stakeholders? It’s essential to involve legal, marketing, IT, and leadership early in the process to ensure a unified approach.
• How will this gTLD fit into our overall strategy? A .brand domain should align with the company’s goals, adding value through increased customer engagement, stronger brand protection, and enhanced digital experiences.
• What could we miss out on if we don’t act? Sometimes the greatest cost is the missed opportunity to innovate and stand out in a competitive market, while your competitor moves forward.

It’s also important to note that some businesses who registered .brand gTLDs in the first round abandoned them within a few years. Others ended up with very few domains registered. This was often due to a lack of internal support or failure to fully explore the potential of the gTLD. To avoid this fate, companies need more innovation and commitment when implementing a .brand gTLD. The only way to unlock the full potential is through a multi-stakeholder, company-wide approach, where all teams contribute to shaping and using the domain effectively.

Preparing for The Next Round of New gTLDs

The next ICANN registration round opens in April 2025, giving businesses a fresh opportunity to secure their own .brand. The EBRAND team offers specialized consulting services (click here for more details) designed to guide businesses through this complex process. Our approach covers three critical phases:

1. Feasibility & Planning: Analyzing whether a gTLD is right for your business and identifying strategic opportunities.
2. Preparation & Strategy: Creating a detailed plan that involves all key stakeholders and aligns with your brand’s long-term goals.
3. Application & ICANN Introduction: Helping your business navigate the application process and preparing for a successful delegation of the gTLD.

Make sure your company is ready to take full advantage of the next registration round and transform your digital presence with a .brand domain that drives innovation, customer engagement, and long-term growth. 

The post Two Tales of .Brand Applications from the Last new gTLD Round appeared first on EBRAND.

As Euro 2024 unfolds, these challenges compete and grow into the tournament, necessitating immediate and effective solutions.  

E-commerce Frauds and Counterfeit Jerseys on Online Marketplaces 

The surge in online sales mirrors a concerning rise in counterfeit products. Fake replica jerseys, apparel, and other merchandise are rampant on various online marketplaces. These counterfeits not only divert revenue from clubs but also harm brand reputation and erode fan trust. Counterfeiters are quick to exploit new product launches, often releasing fake versions before the genuine items are available. With Euro 2024 now in full swing, the demand for team merchandise has soared, creating ideal conditions for counterfeiters. 

Clearly, online marketplaces present critical battlegrounds. While some have improved their anti-counterfeiting measures, there is still a need for better reporting, transparency, data sharing, and stringent seller verification. The surge in Euro 2024 merchandise has put additional pressure on these platforms to enforce stricter measures. This issue proves especially prevalent in Asia, as evidenced by the following sample case on Tokopedia:  

As you can see, convincing cut-price scams and counterfeits litter the internet, posing risks around trust and finances for authorities and consumers alike. 

Fake Online Shops 

Imitation online shops posing as official club stores are a significant issue. These shops deceive consumers, diverting them from genuine purchases and diluting brand value. Despite efforts to shut them down, they frequently resurface under different names, making enforcement a continuous struggle. The increased interest in Euro 2024 merchandise has made these fake shops more prevalent and harder to manage.  

For more information on how these scams operate, and how to stay safe online, see our article on identifying fake shops here. 

Fake shops, masquerading as sites selling official goods, employ various techniques to attract visitors, such as purchasing ads on search engines and leveraging social media profiles to promote their sales. For instance, the screenshot below shows that the top two search results for “football jersey” direct users to sites promoting counterfeit jerseys and kits.

Fake Euro 2024 Mobile Apps 

Fake mobile apps impersonating official football team applications are an emerging threat. These apps deceive users by mimicking legitimate team apps, selling counterfeit merchandise, and posing serious security risks. Often, they contain malware that can steal personal information and financial details. The proliferation of such apps during Euro 2024 has heightened concerns, as fans unknowingly download these malicious applications, compromising their data and security. The presence of these fake apps underscores the need for more rigorous app store vetting processes and increased awareness among fans to prevent exploitation.  

Scalping and Fraudulent Ticket Sales 

Ticket scalping and fraud are longstanding problems in the football industry. Scalpers use bots to purchase large quantities of tickets, which are then resold at inflated prices. Additionally, fake ticket websites and fraudulent resellers deceive fans, causing financial loss and disappointment. The scale of Euro 2024 has escalated these issues, with many fans falling victim to scams.  

Unauthorized sellers distributing counterfeit tickets exacerbate the problem. Even advanced digital ticketing systems are not immune to hacking and manipulation, complicating efforts to ensure ticket authenticity. The high demand for Euro 2024 tickets has made this issue more pressing, with clubs and associations striving to combat fraud and ensure legitimate ticket sales.  

Unauthorized and Illegal Live Streaming During Euro 2024

Unauthorized live streaming of matches poses a significant threat, leading to substantial revenue losses. These illegal streams, often hosted on obscure websites, divert viewers from legitimate services. Shutting down these streams is challenging due to their transient nature and ability to reappear quickly. Euro 2024 has intensified this issue, with a proliferation of illegal streams as fans seek free ways to watch matches. Free streams online are not without danger for consumers, including penalties or even being exposed to download of malware, like in the case below:

As you can see, clicking on these dubious streaming links redirects users to dangerous landing pages, phishing sites, and hazardous malware downloads. Crimestoppers UK recently found that more than 2.5 million illegal streamers experienced a virus, fraud, or personal data theft, highlighting the extent of an issue that’s only on the rise. Organizations, as well as consumers, must take proactive, decisive action to protect the internet from such concerning digital risks.

Social Media and Messaging Apps 

Social media platforms and messaging apps like Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram suffered a rise in unauthorized streams and highlights sharing as football’s popularity summons scammers across the internet. Enforcement presents a serious challenge, due to the rapid spread and ephemeral nature of content on these platforms. With Euro 2024 upon us, unauthorized content sharing surges, necessitating stronger enforcement measures. Social media platforms also lack adequate proactive measures against counterfeit sales.  

Effective brand protection requires stronger collaboration between clubs and social media companies to ensure swift and effective enforcement. The heightened activity around Euro 2024 shines a light on gaping holes in these measures, necessitating more robust and immediate action.  

VIP Protection: High-Profile Players and Managers 

Protecting high-profile football players and managers extends beyond physical security. Their personal brands present valuable assets that need safeguarding from exploitation and misuse. For more information, check out our expert guide here. 

Conclusion: Tackling Scams at Euro 2024 and Beyond

The football industry faces a complex challenge in protecting its brand integrity, from counterfeit merchandise and ticket fraud to illegal streaming and VIP protection. Euro 2024 has brought these issues to the forefront, highlighting the need for innovative and robust strategies.  

By adopting comprehensive measures and fostering strong collaborations, football clubs, leagues, and associations can better safeguard their brand, ensuring a secure and authentic experience for fans worldwide.

The post Scalpers, Fakes, and Streams: Euro 2024’s Brand Protection Nightmares  appeared first on EBRAND.

This blog post delves into two recent cautionary tales, highlighting the importance of vigilance and due diligence when choosing a brand protection partner. These real stories underscore the critical need for careful selection to avoid falling prey to fraudulent operators and scammers. 

The Fake “Anti-Scam” Association Scam 

Imagine stumbling upon a site that purports to be a bastion of consumer defense, pledging to expose scammers and protect the innocent. This site prominently displays logos of reputable consumer and brand protection agencies, suggesting a level of legitimacy and endorsement. However, the reality is far darker. This supposed protector is nothing but a façade created by fraudsters to exploit those already victimized.  The website impersonating trusted entities, including the EBRAND and the Global Anti-Scam Alliance. By using logos of leading brand and consumer associations, the platform pretends to be a well-connected industry partner. This guise gives them the tools they need to perpetrate a scam upon the already scammed. Essentially, scam victims face another attack in a cruel scam on top of a scam.

Actual fake site used in the scam: 

Thankfully, swift enforcement action by EBRAND led to the removal of the site, preventing it from deceiving anyone else. This incident is just one of many they have addressed in the past. This rapid takedown mirrors our everyday work with leading brands and individuals, demonstrating EBRAND’s commitment to vigilant and proactive brand protection. EBRAND’s prompt response underscores the importance of having robust brand protection services. With the right tools in hand, you can quickly identify and eliminate fraudulent activities that prey on vulnerable consumers. 

The Start-Up Brand Protection Scammer 

Imagine you are a startup brand protection provider seeking connections and competitive information in your field. In one case, this led a business to engage in deceptive practices to infiltrate and learn from industry leaders. The CEO of the company, based in Africa, crafted a false identity, complete with an AI-generated profile picture and a fabricated resume. This resume boasted a work history with well-known brands, creating a convincing façade to gain trust and access to valuable industry insights. 

Actual fake image used in the scam: 

Using this fabricated persona, the individual established Gmail accounts and registered fake domain names to conceal their real identity.  

Posing as a potential client interested in brand protection services, the individual contacted EBRAND, requesting information and demonstrations of their Online Brand Protection solutions. His inquiries were tactically framed to extract valuable competitive intelligence, including:

• The scope of marketplace monitoring the brands offer and whether they can tailor this to specific requests. 
• Pricing details for monitoring and enforcement services. 
• Protocols for handling situations where a product from an authorized reseller is mistakenly enforced upon. 
• Unique selling propositions and differentiators from competitors. 

This fraudster meticulously designed fake profiles to appear credible, connecting with hundreds of real people, including leading brand protection experts at global brands, on platforms like LinkedIn. These sophisticated impersonators construct layers of manufactured authenticity to facilitate trust and open doors to sensitive information exchanges. Information siphoning often sneaks in under the guise of genuine business interest. Scammers, much like wolves, rarely operate alone; they often travel in packs as coordinated scam campaigns deceive innocent victims. 

The Moral of the Cases 

These cases once again underline the need for thorough vetting when choosing an online brand protection partner, particularly in an era where AI-generated content can create convincingly fake identities. The presence of scammers in this industry underscores the importance of diligent background checks. Before engaging with any service, consumers and companies must verify customer reviews and seek referrals from trusted industry insiders. Cautious users should also demand clear evidence of operational transparency and past successes. 

As the digital landscape offers vast opportunities for brand growth, it also presents sophisticated threats. Choosing a reputable brand protection partner is crucial to safeguarding against potentially catastrophic deceptions. Brands can ensure the integrity and security of their businesses by critically scrutinizing online identities and maintaining stringent verification standards. 

The post Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing: Fraudsters impersonating Online Brand Protection Experts  appeared first on EBRAND.

As we’ll explore today, counterfeits pose severe health hazards to innocent consumers. Faulty parts lead to accidents, toxic chemicals lead to poisonings, and in the worst cases, counterfeits kill. Here, we’ll look at the impact of online counterfeiting across a few key industries, exploring the health hazards that fakes pose to vulnerable consumers. We’ll also outline the ways that brands can fight back against dangerous scammers, so let’s get into it.  

Understanding the Global Online Counterfeiting Market

Counterfeiting scams thrive in the world of modern ecommerce, filling fake shops and deceptive listings around the world. According to Forbes, the global counterfeit market ranges from $1.7 trillion to $4.5 trillion annually, making it one of the largest economies on the planet. This illicit industry not only undermines legitimate businesses but also inflicts significant job losses. Approximately 2.5 million innocent employees lose out on jobs every year due to the counterfeit market. 

The counterfeiting crisis infiltrates every corner of the globe, and according to the EUIPO, the European Union is no exception. The clothing, cosmetics, and toy industries lose EUR 16 billion in sales annually due to counterfeit products. Crucially, beyond the numbers, counterfeiting’s malicious nature brings its material impact into stark relief.  

Counterfeiters trick consumers and businesses, while also circumventing trading standards without accountability. Laws and regulations hold consumer products to high standards, keeping the public safe. However, counterfeiters can and do fill their products with sub-standard parts and dangerous chemicals. These kinds of hazards lower the standard in any industry they affect, but certain sectors prove especially vulnerable. For example, if hazardous counterfeits infiltrate the toy industry, they endanger their primary consumer: children. 

Counterfeit Toys: A Threat to Children’s Safety

Counterfeit toys present a serious risk to children’s safety. When online counterfeiting infiltrates the toys and games market, toxins lurk in gift-wrapped presents, and choking hazards hide in colorful packaging. Counterfeits often ignore product safety standards, according to a recent study from the Child Accident Prevention Trust. The British organization found that, for example, one counterfeit bow-and-arrow set contained 100 times the legal limit of phthalates, a carcinogenic chemical. Scarier still, a fashion doll set exceeded the limit by 300 times. Legitimate toymakers use phthalates to make plastic more durable, yet they typically abide by tight government restrictions. In excess, these chemicals wreak carcinogenic consequences, along with adverse effects on child growth and neurodevelopment. Children suffer the worst consequences from phthalates in their developmental stages, especially as they often put toys in their mouths. 

Beyond toxicity hazards, counterfeit toys pose multiple acute risks to children. These include choking hazards, fire risks, and more. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, toys caused 209,500 injuries and 11 deaths in the US in 2022 alone. These staggering statistics, from one nation in one year alone, highlight the scale of the issue, and the dangers that hazardous toys pose to vulnerable children. In the toy industry, as in others, brands must step in to tackle counterfeiting and protect consumers.  

Counterfeit Medicine in Africa

Counterfeits clearly inflict significant harm on the vulnerable. In the pharmaceutical industry, they also impact the needy, exploiting medical desperation to peddle dangerous fake goods. According to the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), more than 250,000 children worldwide die from counterfeit medicines each year, with incidents such as over 300 children dying in the past year after ingesting counterfeit cough syrups. United Nations reports also link fake medicines to almost half a million deaths a year in the sub-Saharan region.   

Wherever medical needs arise, counterfeit profiteers follow. For example, in parts of Africa, malaria poses an existential threat to many families. World Health Organization figures state that Africa accounts for 94% of malaria cases and 95% of malaria deaths. Counterfeiters stop at nothing to carve out revenue, scamming concerned families, and desperate sufferers with fake goods. SAHPRA even found that, in some African markets, 88.4 of available malaria medication tested positive for counterfeiting.  

Counterfeit drugs undermine effective healthcare and threaten the lives of innocent patients. The fact that scammers often target the most critically-needed pharmaceuticals, like malaria and HIV medication, underscores the cruelty inherent in counterfeit profiteering. The issue’s prevalence in the medical and pharmaceutical industry highlights its dangerous potential, and the need for effective countermeasures.  

Fake Car Parts: Online Counterfeiting Hazards Hit the Road 

Medicine isn’t the only industry where counterfeiting threatens human lives: far from it. Other standout sectors include the automotive industry. Regulators and designers work hard to ensure that vehicles keep people safe with features and parts like seat belts, brake pads, and airbags. Unfortunately, counterfeits introduce that element of risk, side-stepping regulations and placing drivers, passengers, and innocent bystanders under threat. Just recently, the UK’s Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit identified and sentenced a counterfeiter to 12 months in prison for selling fake airbags. The one criminal caught paints a grim picture of the other counterfeiters who slip through the net.

Counterfeiting also wreaks an economic toll on the automotive industry, not least in the EU. According to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), counterfeit tires and batteries alone consume more than €2 billion every year from member state economies. In 2021, UK customs officials also seized over 1.86 million counterfeit vehicle products, with over 125,000 components removed from marketplaces and social media platforms. Fake auto parts spread over digital channels, dispersing health hazards and financial damage in their wake.

The issues of fake parts is not unique to the automotive industry. Nervous fliers may be uncomfortable to learn that counterfeits can also plague the aviation industry, with disastrous consequences. In 1989, a flight from Oslo to Hamburg crashed at sea, killing 55 people. Investigators later linked the crash to counterfeit bolts and brackets that caused a fault in the plane’s tail section. 

Clearly, counterfeits wreak horrifying consequences that businesses must address, in the manufacturing industry and beyond. Where police tackle fraudsters and scammers on the streets, brands often require digital solutions for tackling the issue of online counterfeits, in the auto industry and beyond.  

Counterfeit Confectionaries: Bittersweet Candies with Toxic Consequences

Counterfeit candy poses a similar risk to fake toys and games, ignoring safety regulations and targeting vulnerable children. These fake confectionaries, often sold online, riff on legitimate brands, but pack their goods with toxins and choking hazards. Recent trends in counterfeit candies also show an alarming rise in drug-laced consumables. Poisoning children and families, they also damage the hard-earned reputations of wholesome food and beverage brands.

Fakes like “Hashibo” THC gummies, “Stoney Patch Kids”, and “Stoneo” Cookies echo familiar brands, populating online shops and social media pages, wrapped in bright, child-friendly packaging. A recent Wall Street Journal article highlights the scale of the issues, with hundreds of kids ending up in hospital. Alongside cannabinoid-infused counterfeits, authorities also recently seized look-alike counterfeit candies laced with psilocybin and other psychoactive chemicals. Brands must protect themselves, and their clients, from the poisoning impact of dangerous counterfeits online.  

Conclusions: The Need to Tackle Online Counterfeiting

Counterfeits pose unique threats in each industry. However, they share key themes, in terms of the vulnerable consumer base facing the consequences. Whether it’s innocent children playing with their friends, vulnerable and sick patients, or innocent road users, online scammers exploit brands and consumers to make a quick buck. With life and death in the balance, and livelihoods and reputations on the line, brands must fight back. Despite their best efforts, law enforcement cannot protect all consumers from the recent trends in online counterfeiting. Brands need to defend their customers, consumers must be vigilant and reject deals that are too good to be true.  

Fortunately, comprehensive brand protection solutions meet each new wave of online counterfeiting with a smart, effective solution. Brands may not even know the extent of the counterfeit market orbiting around their products, but Online Brand Protection delivers the tools to identify the issues, and implement the right steps forward. Industry experts, legal professionals, and AI-powered tools help brands wrest the power back from cybercriminals, and safeguard their ecommerce landscape. Detecting, tracking, and eliminating online infringements helps businesses do their duty to vulnerable consumers, while protecting their brands and securing their revenues. 

Learn more about what’s possible with Online Brand Protection here, or get a free audit from our team of experts. 

The post Lives at Risk: The Health Hazards of Online Counterfeiting  appeared first on EBRAND.

The criminal connection and global economic impacts

In the pursuit of the cheapest holiday deals, professional cybercriminals capitalizing on counterfeit goods often get overlooked. The counterfeit problem plays a pivotal role in a trade. Beyond the staggering $250 billion annually, counterfeiters wreak a huge socio-economic toll on the world. Consumers must consider this broader economic impact as we carefully plan our gift lists. As we’ll discuss, counterfeiting drains resources and tax revenues, and a inflicts a significant burden on societies.

Beyond just the money: the social consequences

The holiday season, a time for joy and celebration, becomes bittersweet when we recognize that the trade in counterfeit goods is often entwined with criminal enterprises involved in that frequently use child labor and hazardous production processes, that have no regard for safety or sustainability standards. Apart from the dazzle of decorations and festive lights, our choices as consumers can either support these nefarious activities or contribute to the greater good.

Health hazards of counterfeits

Consider the gifts we select for our loved ones. Beyond the allure of aesthetics, a more profound concern emerges – the risks posed by counterfeit cosmetics and luxury goods. In our pursuit of the perfect present, let’s be mindful of the potential consequences hiding beneath the wrapping paper. By opting for authentic, high-quality products, you invest in the joy of your recipients, while also contributing to a safer, more genuine global community, free from the pitfalls of substandard and counterfeit luxury items.

Counterfeit cosmetics and luxury goods can lead to severe health effects, ranging from skin rashes and allergies to more serious complications. The deceptive ingredients used in these knock-off products may trigger adverse reactions. These cause discomfort, and in extreme cases, pose significant health risks. This danger is obvious and most dramatic when it comes to counterfeit medicine. By choosing authentic items, we not only prioritize the well-being of our loved ones but also promote a marketplace that values safety and authenticity.

Economic impact and employment challenges

As we enjoy the holiday spirit, it’s crucial to acknowledge that the economic impact of counterfeiting extends beyond immediate financial losses. Counterfeiting drains the global economy, impacting tax revenues, employment, and public resources. Our thoughtful choices can help preserve jobs, and support legitimate businesses. Crucially, they also ensure that our festivities contribute positively to the well-being of societies.

The impact of counterfeits on luxury and fashion goods

Luxury and fashion goods, being Christmas present favorites, carry a unique significance. The allure of these items lies not just in their quality but in their craftsmanship. Those who create them pour dedication into their craft, above and beyond your average product. Opting for counterfeit luxuries harms the recipient, who may unknowingly receive an inferior product. However, it also inflicts damage on the artisans and designers who painstakingly crafted the authentic pieces.

Over the past weeks, we have posted various articles highlighting aspects of the dynamic counterfeit and online scam space. These included the following:

1. The rise of superfakes: Skillful scammers make high-quality counterfeits increasingly hard to distinguish in person, let alone online. The EUIPO’s Fake Star Operation coordinated more than €87 million of counterfeit garment seizures between March and December 2022. Beyond that, imagine how many slip through the net.
2. Combatting fake shopping websites: Fake shopping websites are soaring, as scammers stand between shoppers and brands online. With consumers hungry for deals and cybercriminals unlocking unprecedented scamming tools and techniques, caution isn’t enough. We need new strategies to fight back against fake shops.
3. Comprehensive feature our team supported on France Télévision about fighting counterfeits: We documented how technology, powered by AI and expert legal teams, as provided by EBRAND, swiftly detects and removes counterfeit product listings. Our ARGOS solution conducts this vital work with a single click, ensuring the protection of brands and consumers.

As we immerse ourselves in the festive season, our awareness, coupled with responsible choices, can contribute to building a safer, more ethical world. By understanding the global impact of counterfeit trade, we empower ourselves to be agents of positive change.

Spreading festive cheer responsibly 

This holiday season, let’s turn our gift-giving into an act of kindness that resonates globally. As we select presents, choose quality over quantity. Opt for genuine products. Ultimately, they bring joy, and also support legitimate businesses, preserve jobs, and contribute to the well-being of communities worldwide. The act of giving becomes even more meaningful when it aligns with values of authenticity, craftsmanship, and ethical consumerism.

The ripple effect of our choices extends far beyond the holiday season. Currently, only two groups can effectively limit the negative impact of counterfeits: brand owners that take policing and countering infringements up actively and make it a core part of their online strategy, and consumers, that are extra vigilant and select originals over cheap fakes. By spreading cheer responsibly, we actively combat the damage by counterfeit trade. We also help create a world where the joy of giving is not tarnished by unintended consequences.

Let’s embrace the true spirit of the season. Together, we can work towards compassion, responsibility, and making a positive impact on the lives of fellow humans and communities globally.

The post Unwrapping the impact of counterfeit gifts appeared first on EBRAND.

In the arms race between the accelerating dynamics and transformative shifts of digital innovation, the regulatory space has become a decisive battleground. Our recent Digital Services Act (DSA) coverage highlighted the efforts to regulate the online space and protect consumers. Other global legislative measures strive to fortify security measures for both organizations and consumers. Analysing these measures reveals the intricate dance between innovation and governance. However, this is just one chapter in a larger narrative that underscores the urgent need for proper regulation to keep pace with the breakneck speed of digital change. 

Enter the Digital Operational Resilience Regulation, or Dora, scheduled to take the stage on January 17, 2025. Dora represents a strategic move to ensure security, specifically within the dynamic sphere of digital finance. It signifies a paradigm shift where legislative initiatives act as a line of defence in the face of digital disruptions. In this exploration, we shed a light on how Dora serves as a pre-emptive approach, setting the tone for a future where regulatory frameworks are at the forefront of the arms race, dictating the standards that will shape industries navigating the turbulent waters of digital evolution. 

Dora in a nutshell

Here, we’ve oulined with key rules from Dora. As you’ll see, their wide implications for financial institutions make them worthy or your attention:

1.Continuous service availability

Dora mandates that financial institutions must ensure the uninterrupted availability of critical services, even in the face of operational disruptions or cyberattacks. This provision underscores the importance of preventing extended downtime that could adversely affect both the institution and its customers. 

2. Cybersecurity standards

Dora enforces specific cybersecurity standards that financial institutions are obligated to adhere to. These standards cover a wide spectrum of measures, including data protection, incident response protocols, and robust security practices, all aimed at safeguarding against cyber threats. 

3. Dora’s data protection

Dora places significant emphasis on data protection and the secure management of customer and corporate data. Financial institutions are required to implement stringent measures to safeguard sensitive information from unauthorized access. 

4. Third-party risk management

Financial groups must effectively manage the risks associated with third-party service providers and vendors. This entails ensuring that these external entities also adhere to the same high standards of operational resilience and cybersecurity. 

5. Communication and reporting

Dora establishes clear communication and reporting requirements for financial institutions. They are expected to promptly report any cyber incidents or operational disruptions to regulatory authorities and relevant stakeholders. This provision promotes transparency and swift response to incidents. 

6. Operational risk assessments

Financial institutions are mandated to conduct regular operational risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in their digital operations. These assessments are vital for proactively addressing potential threats. 

7. Business continuity planning

Dora requires the development of robust business continuity plans to ensure that financial institutions can continue providing critical services in the event of disruptions or crises. 

8. Testing and scenario analysis

Financial institutions must regularly conduct testing and scenario analysis to evaluate their operational resilience. This facilitates the identification of potential weaknesses and areas for improvement. 

Leveraging comprehensive solutions to strengthen the security posture with Dora in mind

In the context of Dora’s comprehensive rulings, integrating Corporate Domain Management, Online Brand Protection, and Digital Risk Protection solutions becomes a strategic imperative for financial institutions.  

These solutions align seamlessly with Dora’s regulatory requirements and contribute to lasting operational resilience and an elevated cybersecurity posture in the digital age. Beyond that, these mandates also provide a glimpse into emerging digital security standards for other industries and sectors in the near future. 

How “Bank A” maintains continuous service availability and compliant domain management 

Consider Bank A, a financial institution actively addressing service availability requirements. In pursuit of these objectives, Bank A deploys a robust suite of domain management services. These encompass routine monitoring, DNS security measures, SSL certificate management, and strategic domain portfolio optimization. The result is a fortified infrastructure that guarantees secure access to vital services, minimizes vulnerabilities, and bolsters operational resilience against potential cyber threats. 

How “Bank B” attains Dora’s cybersecurity and risk protection standards

Dora sets stringent cybersecurity standards, to which financial institutions must align. A bank, let’s call them “Bank B”, therefore employs a Digital Risk Protection platform to monitors hazards on the dark web, identify phishing attempts, and potential cyber threats proactively. By staying ahead of growing risks and swiftly solving threats, the bank not only improves its cybersecurity posture, but also aligns with the law’s requirements, ultimately bolstering its operational strength. 

How “Financial Firm C” achieves brand protection and regulatory alignment with Dora

Brand asset protection represents another key Dora policy area, ensuring the integrity and security of a financial group’s digital presence. “Financial firm C”, another institution determined to safeguard its online brand presence, utilizes online brand protection services encompassing trademark monitoring, domain name monitoring, mobile apps monitoring, and social media monitoring. These services help the institution detect and mitigate brand infringement and misuse, ensuring that it complies with brand usage policies. By safeguarding its digital brand assets, Financial firm C enhances its operational resilience in the digital realm. 

Risk mitigation and management

Dora underscores the importance of risk assessment and management, particularly in the digital domain. Digital risk protection solutions play a pivotal role in that function, proactively identifying and mitigating risks associated with cyber threats and unauthorized access. 

In summary… 

The Digital Operational Resilience Regulation, or Dora, has reshaped the regulatory landscape for financial institutions. Compliance with Dora is not just a matter of ticking boxes but rather a strategic approach to ensuring operational resilience and cybersecurity. To thrive in this environment, financial institutions must strategically allocate resources to essential areas such as domain management, online brand protection, and digital risk mitigation.

These investments contribute to a more secure and resilient digital future for all. Ultimately, it’s a transformative journey. By embracing these solutions, financial institutions can navigate the digital landscape with confidence and resilience. Successful navigation sets the stage for the digital security standards that may become future norms across the board. 

The post Navigating digital regulations: How Dora affects the online landscape appeared first on EBRAND.

Here, we’ll explore the evolving threats to ecommerce, the strengths and weaknesses of domain monitoring, and holistic digital risk protection strategies.  

Key points:  

1. Domain monitoring helps businesses track threats to their web presence, but cyberattackers develop new tactics to hinder its accuracy and efficiency.  

2. Traditional domain monitoring struggles with false positives, inadequate content analysis, and challenges in timely threat detection, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach.  

3. EBRAND’s Digital Risk Protection offers an AI-powered solution to address these challenges and provide holistic defense against modern cyber threats.  

How domain monitoring protects business online  

Domain monitoring traditionally helps businesses identify, track, and eliminate threatening domain registrations from scammers and impersonators online. Malicious domains divert legitimate traffic, lure visitors into downloading malware or leaking data, and launch phishing attacks. Experts began deploying these kinds of tactics in the early 2000s. For a long time, traditional domain monitoring formed a core strategy for organizations worldwide.  

However, over the last few years, technical innovations began to expose its limitations. Gone are the days when a mere Excel report sufficiently tracks newly registered domains. Manual qualification can’t handle modern domain threats, particularly without inbuilt workflows or mitigation tools. Businesses must explore and overcome these limitations to protect themselves online. 

The limitations of traditional domain monitoring

Today, cybercriminals diversify their attack channels to evade a company’s defenses. Attackers broaden their target’s attack surfaces by concealing themselves through subdomains, unrelated domains, and other online channels like social media platforms.  

Furthermore, their use of evasive tactics like homoglyphs and variations that omit the company name makes domain threats hard to detect and repel. The variation of a legitimate “examplebank.com” to a fraudulent “examp1ebank.com” highlights the power of changing a single character. This risk extends to many other, less conspicuous variations.  

Sophisticated attacks demand a more comprehensive response, and here’s where traditional domain monitoring faces significant challenges:  

• Volume of false positives: Companies with short or generic names often struggle with large volumes of false positives. These false alarms can divert resources and attention away from actual threats, reducing the effectiveness of the monitoring process.  
• Content analysis: Monitoring should extend beyond domain ownership to include analyzing website content. Often unrelated domain names or subdomains of previously registered legitimate domains are used to attack.   
• Timing of attacks: A domain might initially appear harmless but could later be activated for an attack. This dynamic nature requires more frequent and vigilant monitoring to detect changes.  
• Quantity vs. quality: Merely knowing that hundreds of domains exist is not enough. The key is to identify which domains pose genuine threats. Traditional domain monitoring often struggles to differentiate between these domains, leading to potential oversight of critical risks.  

To address these challenges, businesses need to adopt a proactive and multifaceted approach that combines domain monitoring with content analysis, frequent updates, and advanced threat intelligence.  

How domain monitoring evolves with Digital Risk Protection 

Digital Risk Protection enhances traditional domain monitoring, replacing obsolete spreadsheets with real-time tracking, machine-learning risk quantification, and active mitigation tools. Integrating these modern tools becomes crucial for preventing cyber threats and safeguarding online assets effectively.  

Cybercriminals exploit variations and evolve their attacks. To tackle these challenges, AI-powered digital risk protection delivers a comprehensive approach with the following applications:  

• Content scoring and image search: Evaluating content, images, and malicious intent for a more thorough threat assessment.  
• Battling deceptive variations: Vigilantly monitoring and countering domain variations, thwarting cybercriminals’ attempts to evade detection.  
• Identity-based risk scoring: an AI-powered analysis that assesses risks based on user behavior, historical data, and diverse variables in a custom brand vector space.  
• Smart tracking technology: Checking the domain, website content, and technical setup, including DNS or MX setup changes.  

In the dynamic landscape of cyber threats, businesses must innovate to survive.  

Conclusions: Digital Risk Protection modernizes defenses

The move from domain monitoring to holistic digital risk protection represents a pivotal moment for online security. EBRAND’s Digital Risk Protection extends beyond domain safeguarding, fortifying online assets, social media, and third-party platforms. With seamless content scoring, vigilant monitoring, and identity-based risk assessment, EBRAND’s platform is a modern defense against today’s cyber threats. Our scope also delivers blocklisting, one-click enforcement, domain recovery, and domain acquisition, intercepting threats and covering any eventuality.   

EBRAND’s Digital Risk Protection empowers you to secure your digital presence. Discover the details in this free resource.

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