Some industries do indeed attract account takeover attacks more than others. Financial services sit at the top of the list with 18.7 million dark web mentions of banks as of last year as tracked by Lunar by Webz.io. Healthcare, retail, telecommunications, and technology companies aren’t far behind.
Each sector attracts attackers for different reasons – direct monetary gain, valuable personal data, or access to broader networks. Security teams need to understand what makes their industry a target, in order to build the right defenses. This page breaks down which industries face the highest risk and why attackers focus on each one.
Financial Services: Where the money is
Banks and credit unions see more account takeover attacks than anyone else. Webz.io recorded a 250% jump in takeover activity against financial institutions in 2024. Regional banks and credit unions got hit especially hard with credential-stuffing campaigns.
The motivation is straightforward – bank accounts equal instant cash. Attackers drain accounts through wire transfers, ACH fraud, or fraudulent card transactions within minutes of gaining access. The personal data in these accounts – Social Security numbers, addresses, employment details – fuels identity theft rings for months afterward.
Phishing remains the primary attack vector. The leaked credentials appear on dark web markets within hours, often bundled with session cookies that bypass authentication entirely.
Healthcare: Data worth more than gold
Healthcare organizations face nearly the same exposure as banks. IBM’s 2024 data shows healthcare breaches cost $10.93 million on average – more than any other industry. Medical records sell for top dollar on the dark web – they contain names, birthdates, insurance details, medical histories, and Social Security numbers all in one place. Attackers use this data to file fake insurance claims, order prescription drugs, or create synthetic identities for financial fraud. One compromised healthcare account can provide literally years of criminal opportunity.
Outdated systems make things worse. Many healthcare providers run infrastructure from the 1990s with minimal security features. IT teams stretched thin by budget constraints can’t implement modern authentication or monitor access patterns effectively. Patient portals and admin systems sit exposed to credential-stuffing attacks that can succeed through persistence alone.
Retail and Ecommerce: Scale creates risk
Retailers handle millions of transactions daily, creating massive attack surfaces. Customer accounts hold saved credit cards, addresses, and purchase histories that attackers turn into fraudulent orders. Loyalty points add extra appeal – those accumulated rewards translate directly to cash value.
Digital wallets and “buy now, pay later” options have opened new attack vectors. These payment methods connect to multiple funding sources, letting attackers maximize damage from one breach. Webz.io regularly finds retail employee credentials on dark web forums. These insider credentials give attackers direct access to backend systems and customer databases – far more damaging than compromised customer accounts alone.
Holiday shopping makes things worse. Attackers time their credential-stuffing campaigns for Black Friday and other peak shopping periods. They run automated tools that test millions of stolen passwords against retail sites. With so many legitimate transactions happening, fraudulent purchases can slip through unnoticed for days or weeks.
Telecommunications: The keys to everything else
Telecom providers sit at the center of modern authentication. Phone numbers anchor identity verification for banking, email, social media, and enterprise systems through SMS codes. This central position makes telecom accounts incredibly valuable to sophisticated attackers.
SIM swapping causes the most damage. Attackers transfer victim phone numbers to their own devices, intercepting every text-based verification code. This gives them access to cryptocurrency wallets, corporate networks, and financial accounts – all protected by SMS authentication. Phone takeover monitoring can help catch these attacks early, before they cascade into other systems.
Dark web markets increasingly feature telecom employee credentials and SIM swap kits. These tools let amateur criminals execute complex attacks. One successful telecom breach often enables dozens of downstream account takeovers, making this sector critical for ATO protection strategies.
Technology and SaaS: One breach, thousands of victims
Technology and SaaS companies face a unique challenge – their interconnected architecture means one breach can cascade across thousands of customers. A single compromised admin account opens doors to entire customer environments, making these platforms irresistible targets for attackers.
The technical architecture of SaaS platforms creates natural vulnerabilities. Session tokens that never expire give attackers persistent access. Overly broad permission sets let them move freely between systems. Inconsistent security policies across different platform components leave exploitable gaps. Once inside, attackers often maintain access for months, methodically exploring connected systems and documenting valuable data. The Verizon 2025 DBIR confirms this trend, showing sharp increases in supply chain breaches originating from compromised SaaS accounts.
Multi-tenant environments add another layer of complexity to account takeover detection. Each customer uses the platform differently, creating varied usage patterns across the system. Attackers exploit this variation to hide their activity – they look like legitimate power users while systematically stealing data.
Protecting your industry
Every sector needs defenses tailored to its specific risks. Dark web monitoring gives you early warning when credentials surface on criminal forums. Platforms like Lunar continuously scan underground marketplaces and alert you before those credentials turn into active breaches. Cyber threat hunting teams use this intelligence to search proactively for signs of compromise.
Learn how Lunar can help detect and prevent account takeovers in your industry today.
