Criminals are hijacking Microsoft’s trusted name to lock your screen, steal your data, and drain your confidence in seconds

• Fake Microsoft alerts are pushing users into panic-driven, costly mistakes
• Visual authenticity no longer guarantees safety in a manipulated digital landscape
• Cyberattacks increasingly target human psychology rather than technical weaknesses

The authority and familiarity of a major brand like Microsoft often offers users a sense of assurance – but new research has warned this is not always the case.

Findings from the Cofense Phishing Defense Center claim this trust can be exploited, as seen in a recent campaign it spotted where criminals manipulated Microsoft branding to deceive victims.