Microsoft Becomes Most Impersonated Brand in Phishing Attacks
Microsoft emerged as the most impersonated brand in phishing attacks in the fourth quarter of 2025, overtaking Facebook, as cybercriminals increasingly leveraged trusted global brands to deceive users.
The findings were revealed in a new report by Guardio Labs, which analysed global phishing activity toward the end of 2025.
Attackers Exploit Peak Online Activity Periods
According to the research, phishing actors intensified brand impersonation campaigns during periods when users were more likely to expect legitimate communications. These included year-end account reviews, subscription renewals, holiday shopping seasons, and job-search cycles.
Guardio Labs noted sharp spikes in phishing attempts during Black Friday promotions, the December package-delivery rush, and the early January job-hunting season, creating ideal conditions for scams to succeed.
Why Microsoft Is a Prime Target
Researchers said Microsoft’s dominance stems from the breadth of its digital ecosystem, which includes email services, cloud storage, productivity software, and enterprise platforms used by individuals and organisations worldwide.
Cybercriminals frequently deploy fake login pages, counterfeit security alerts, and fraudulent billing notices designed to closely resemble legitimate Microsoft communications, making them difficult for users to detect.
“Scammers ramped up brand impersonation attacks throughout Q4 2025, targeting moments when people are busiest online,” Guardio Labs said.
Other Major Brands Also Exploited
While Microsoft led the rankings, the report stressed that attackers abused several other high-profile brands to lower victims’ defences.
“These campaigns abused well-known brands such as Microsoft, Facebook, Roblox, and McAfee to appear trustworthy,” the researchers noted.
Facebook, which previously topped impersonation charts, remains heavily targeted through fake security alerts and account recovery messages aimed at stealing user credentials.
Rising Threat to Children and Teenagers
A concerning trend highlighted in the report is the growing targeting of platforms popular with children and teenagers.
Roblox ranked third among the most impersonated brands in Q4 2025. Phishing campaigns impersonating the gaming platform often lure victims with promises of free in-game currency, exclusive virtual items, or urgent account suspension warnings.
Guardio Labs warned that children are frequently drawn into fake giveaways requiring “verification,” resulting in stolen login details. Meanwhile, parents are targeted with fraudulent support pages designed to harvest payment and gift-card information.
Sophisticated Phishing Tools Increase Risk
The report also noted that modern phishing kits have become far more advanced. Many are now capable of stealing session cookies and multi-factor authentication tokens, not just usernames and passwords, significantly increasing the risk of account takeovers.
Beyond major technology firms, attackers are increasingly impersonating brands across gaming, telecommunications, cybersecurity, e-commerce, and cryptocurrency sectors, targeting accounts that store valuable financial and personal data.
Top 10 Most Impersonated Brands in Q4 2025
According to Guardio Labs, the most impersonated brands during the quarter were:
- Microsoft
- Roblox
- McAfee
- Steam
- AT&T
- Amazon
- Yahoo
- Coinbase
Conclusion
The rise of Microsoft to the top of phishing impersonation rankings underscores the growing sophistication of cybercriminals and their reliance on trusted global brands. As attackers continue to time campaigns around peak digital activity and expand targets to younger audiences, cybersecurity experts warn that heightened awareness and stronger security practices are critical to reducing phishing risks in 2026 and beyond.
