# Identity Abuse Through Trusted Communication Channels

DevFeed: [Identity Abuse Through Trusted Communication Channels](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/identity-abuse-through-trusted-communication-channels-7750.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/communication-channel-identity-risks/>)

Author: Bill Batchelor

Published: 2026-08-20T10:00:25Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Unit 42](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/unit-42.md>)

Topics: [Security](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/security.md>), [Authentication](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/authentication.md>), [Social engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/social-engineering.md>), [Software as a service](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/saas.md>), [Incident response](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/incident-response.md>)

Tags: [authentication](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/authentication.md>), [credential-theft](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/credential-theft.md>), [identity](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/identity.md>), [identity-theft](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/identity-theft.md>), [incident-response](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/incident-response.md>), [malware](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/malware.md>), [mfa](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/mfa.md>), [phishing](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/phishing.md>), [remote-access-software](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/remote-access-software.md>), [saas](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/saas.md>), [security](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/security.md>), [social-engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/social-engineering.md>), [threat-research](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/threat-research.md>)

## AI overview

Unit 42 examines how attackers abuse trusted enterprise communication and collaboration platforms for identity phishing, impersonation, credential theft, malware delivery and social engineering. The article describes how compromised identities can make malicious activity appear legitimate within authenticated collaboration sessions and offers recommendations for detecting and defending against these attacks.

## Source excerpt

Unit 42 details how attackers exploit enterprise collaboration tools for identity phishing and credential theft. Discover key defense strategies. The post Identity Abuse Through Trusted Communication Channels appeared first on Unit 42.