Targeted vs. Automated
Account Takeover Attacks

Account takeover (ATO) occurs when criminals use stolen logins to access user accounts without permission–typically credentials that have been exposed in a third-party breach. Using victims’ accounts, criminals can make fraudulent purchases, drain accounts, steal sensitive data, or move laterally within a target organization.

The vast majority of account takeover attempts are automated credential-stuffing attacks. However, SpyCloud customers report that 80 percent of losses come from just 10 percent of ATO attempts, which are highly targeted and challenging to detect.

Read this whitepaper to learn:

• The differences between targeted and automated account takeover attacks and why targeted attacks can cause so much damage
• The five phases of an account takeover attack and the tactics, techniques, and procedures cybercriminals throughout the attack timeline
• How early detection can help you prevent both targeted and automated account takeover