How You Can Outsmart Phishing

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Phishing attacks continue to be one of the most dangerous cyberthreats. The social engineering aspect of this type of cyberattack is one of the major reasons why phishing is so challenging for defenders to combat. For IT teams and managed service providers (MSPs), staying ahead of phishing means more than just deploying security tools — it requires outsmarting attackers by strengthening the human firewall. Security awareness training with phishing simulations is key to this effort, equipping employees to recognize and resist the devious manipulation tactics used to lure unsuspecting employees into phishing traps.

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Excerpted in part from our Guide to Phishing Protection for Businesses DOWNLOAD IT>>

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Cybersecurity problems caused by user practices have tripled

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Unfortunately, to err is human. In our Kaseya Cybersecurity Survey Report 2024, we revealed that our respondents told us that human actions are the top cybersecurity problem with which IT professionals contend. Nearly half of them pointed to poor user practices or gullibility as a top cause of trouble, tripling from 15% in 2023 to 45% in 2024. This creates a complex challenge for IT professionals.

Combating the risk of trouble from user-related vectors like human error and negligence is a difficult and potentially costly proposition. The most effective and affordable way for IT professionals to gain ground in the fight is through regular, high-quality cybersecurity awareness training for every user. Venture Beat reports that 84% of businesses in a recent survey said that security awareness training reduced the chance that an employee falls for the trap in a phishing message. Arming users with knowledge and experience through education is the key to mitigating human risk.  

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Human vulnerabilities can be exploited

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Cybercriminals have a wide array of tricks in their toolbox for capitalizing on human frailties. Here are some of the human weaknesses that cybercriminals may seek to exploit:

• Cognitive overload: In fast-paced environments, harried employees who are multitasking may carelessly mishandle data or overlook red flags leading to hasty, disastrous decisions like clicking malicious links.
• Distraction: Multitasking is the new normal in today’s hectic world. It’s also a recipe for inattention that can end in an employee absentmindedly downloading a suspicious attachment.
• Trusting nature: Humans are inherently trusting and may not question communications that appear legitimate, making them susceptible to convincing phishing messages.
• Misunderstood responsibilities: Surprisingly, many employees don’t think they have to worry about cybersecurity. Unfortunately, about 40% of workers believe only executives and security teams are responsible for security.
• Lack of knowledge: Many employees do not fully understand what phishing might look like and how to recognize malicious messages. Slipshod training results in improperly educated employees falling for cybercriminals’ schemes.
• Fear of punishment: Unfortunately, many companies resort to draconian measures when an employee causes a cybersecurity incident, even if it is minor and fixable. An estimated 50% of employees are afraid to report their cybersecurity errors because they fear facing serious repercussions.

Learning about the human weaknesses that bad actors exploit sheds light on some of the most common phishing lures that bad actors employ.

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Common phishing triggers

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Employees are highly likely to fall for phishing. In a CISA phishing study, 84% of employees took the bait by either replying with sensitive information or interacting with a spoofed link or attachment within the first 10 minutes of receiving a “malicious” email. Cybercriminals can get creative in the lures they use to deceive their intended victims, but there is a general pattern to how they operate.

Common phishing triggers include:

• Urgent requests for action (e.g., “Act now” or “Your account will be suspended”).
• Unexpected requests for sensitive information (e.g., passwords or payment details).
• Offers that seem too good to be true (e.g., prize winnings or refunds).
• Inconsistent or suspicious-looking URLs.
• Unsolicited emails regarding overdue payments or account issues.
• Training and simulations keep cyberthreats at bay.

These aren’t the only deceptive tactics bad actors use to hoodwink unsuspecting users, especially now that cybercriminals are using AI to power up their phishing attacks. By implementing a successful security awareness and phishing resistance training program, defenders can equip employees with the knowledge they need to avoid these triggers and other tricks cybercriminals may employ.

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Hooking success: Best practices for effective training

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Security awareness training requires significant investment in resources from a time and budget perspective. These best practices can help IT professionals craft an impactful security awareness training and phishing simulation program that makes the most of those expenditures.

• Tailor training to specific job roles to ensure relevance. For example, sales teams may need guidance on recognizing phishing in customer interactions, while finance teams may require training on identifying fraudulent payment requests.
• Use a diverse range of phishing simulations. Go beyond email to include SMS (smishing) and voice (vishing) phishing, to keep employees engaged and prepared for various threats. Regularly update and randomize scenarios to reflect current risks.
• Require every employee (from interns to C-suite) to undergo training. In a U.K. study, researchers determined that managers are twice as likely as rank-and-file employees to fall for phishing.
• Use up-to-date training content that reflects actual threats employees face. If your content seems old and stale, not only is it less effective, but employees are more likely to be disengaged and not learn or retain the information.
• Conduct thorough evaluations after each training session and simulation. Assess employee knowledge retention, identify common pitfalls and gather feedback to improve future training initiatives. Engaging in discussions can reveal valuable insights into employees’ thought processes during simulated phishing attempts.

It is important that training is regularly refreshed for it to stick. The recommended cadence for security awareness training is every four to six months. Running regular phishing simulations is a great way to amplify that training and keep employees on their toes.

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Reel in the benefits of phishing simulations

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Phishing simulations are a powerful tool for reinforcing security awareness training. By mimicking real-world phishing attempts, these simulations provide employees with hands-on experience in identifying and responding to threats. Microsoft reports that after deploying phishing simulations five times, the percentage of users susceptible to phishing dropped from 70% to single digits. Phishing simulations provide employees with several key benefits, including:

• Realistic experience: Simulations help employees identify phishing signs and respond appropriately.
• Immediate feedback: Instant feedback reinforces knowledge and promotes caution.
• Behavioral change: Regular simulations foster vigilance, reducing the likelihood of falling for real attacks.
• Measurable improvement: Organizations can track performance over time to assess awareness and response rate improvements, guiding future training efforts.

The human factor will always pose significant challenges in combating phishing attacks, which is why approaching the problem from multiple angles is essential. Pairing effective security awareness training with phishing simulations and other user protection measures like an AI-driven anti-phishing solution further mitigates phishing risk. Learn more about the benefits of pursuing a proactive user protection strategy with Kaseya 365 User.

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