Criminals posing as banks, delivery firms and recruiters sent 208 million phishing emails to con recipients into transferring money to them, according to Uswitch.
As those public networks are not encrypted, hackers can more easily intercept data from users.
The most targeted group was 18-24-year-olds, who were more susceptible to being hacked due to the regularity of using public WiFi networks and through fake ads appearing on social media.
Almost 40% of that demographic had their account hacked in 2024, while Gen Zers represent around a third (37%) of all reported social media scams.
Over-50s make up almost half (45%) of all reported phishing scams. This age group is the focus of emailed scams due to the trust and familiarity regarding the brands and services they use.
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Following its report into cyber crime, Uswitch has warned internet users of ‘on-platform chain hacking’ – the process of criminals sending messages to contacts to request money or more personal information once they’ve already hacked one account.
In April, the Government outlawed SIM farms – a device used by fraudsters to send thousands of scam texts at the same time.
Fraud continues to grow in the UK, and Government stats show incidents rose by a fifth (19%) last year and represent over 40% of all crime in England and Wales.
Max Beckett, Uswitch’s broadband expert, said: “People assume hackers are looking for a challenge, but they’re really looking for a shortcut. And we’re giving them one.
“It’s the small gaps, like reused passwords, old routers, and ignored updates that make the biggest difference. Most cyber crime isn’t clever. It’s opportunistic. And often, it’s preventable.”
To give you the best chance of protecting your data online, Beckett provided five tips to adopt in your everyday life online.
Five tips to avoid online hacking
- Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) on every key account – especially email, banking and social media.
- Avoid public WiFi networks for anything sensitive. If you must use it, connect through a trusted VPN.
- Change your router password and update its firmware every few months.
- Use a password manager so you don’t repeat or simplify passwords.
- Check your home broadband for unfamiliar devices – it could be a sign of unauthorised access.
