A recent report by Enzoic revealed that over three million employee accounts linked to Fortune 500 companies were compromised between 2022 and 2024. This alarming rise in account breaches is primarily driven by the widespread use of corporate email addresses for personal accounts, combined with the growing threat of infostealer malware. The surge in exposed credentials has led to significant risks, including account takeovers (ATO), fraud, and data breaches. Enzoic’s analysis also found that one in ten Fortune 500 employees had their credentials exposed during this period, with each compromised account being exposed an average of 5.7 times.
The report identifies several key sectors that have been heavily impacted by these compromises. Commercial banks and utilities, for example, faced nearly 120,000 exposed accounts in 2024 alone. These industries are considered prime targets for cybercriminals due to their financial and infrastructure vulnerabilities. Telecommunications companies also saw a fourfold increase in compromised accounts, further exposing critical digital infrastructure.
Additionally, internet services and retailing sectors continue to be top targets due to their expansive digital footprints, highlighting the growing need for improved cybersecurity measures.
Enzoic’s findings point to a fundamental shift in the methods used to compromise credentials. The surge in incidents is largely fueled by sophisticated infostealer malware families such as Redline, Raccoon, and Vidar. These malware types are designed to extract login credentials, session cookies, and digital fingerprints, enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to accounts. Dylan Hudson, Enzoic’s Head of Threat Research, emphasized the critical need for organizations to prioritize these vulnerabilities and implement real-time credential monitoring to mitigate the rising risks of account takeovers and data breaches.
In light of these findings, Enzoic stresses the importance of adopting proactive cybersecurity strategies. These include continuous credential screening to detect compromised accounts before they can be exploited and embracing zero-trust security models that reduce reliance on passwords alone. Employee education is also essential, particularly to discourage the use of corporate email addresses for personal online accounts. By addressing these foundational vulnerabilities, businesses can better safeguard their systems against the growing threat of credential-based cyberattacks.
