IBM: Phishing is the Most Common Way to Gain Access to Victim Networks



Phishing Attacks Common Way to Gain AccessNew research from IBM shows four reasons why phishing attacks are still effective and remains the primary attack vector in 41% of cyberattacks.

Phishing has been around since the 1990’s and yet it still works today. And despite security solutions blocking most phishing emails, the ones that do get through to the Inbox remain an effective tool for threat actors.

But why?

I’ll cut right to the chase – it works. Cybercriminals today follow the simple rule of “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” In other words, stick to what works.

According to IBM Security, there are four reasons why phishing continues to prevail today:

  • Remote work heightens email’s use as a primary communication medium.
  • Cybercriminals are using email in conjunction with voice to increase message believability and scam credibility.
  • Cybercrime-as-a-Service is booming, giving even the least experienced cybercriminal professional access, tools, and malware to accomplish their attacks.
  • Current security training efforts aren’t frequent enough and simply aren’t getting it done.

The interesting part of IBM’s four reasons is that they all can be addressed by an organization implementing continual Security Awareness Training that teaches users specifically to be mindful of phishing and social engineering attacks, staying abreast of current attack trends and methods, so that – should they themselves come across a phishing attack – they can render it useless.


Free Phishing Security Test

Would your users fall for convincing phishing attacks? Take the first step now and find out before bad actors do. Plus, see how you stack up against your peers with phishing Industry Benchmarks. The Phish-prone percentage is usually higher than you expect and is great ammo to get budget.

PST ResultsHere's how it works:

  • Immediately start your test for up to 100 users (no need to talk to anyone)
  • Select from 20+ languages and customize the phishing test template based on your environment
  • Choose the landing page your users see after they click
  • Show users which red flags they missed, or a 404 page
  • Get a PDF emailed to you in 24 hours with your Phish-prone % and charts to share with management
  • See how your organization compares to others in your industry

Go Phishing Now!

PS: Don't like to click on redirected buttons? Cut & Paste this link in your browser:

https://www.knowbe4.com/phishing-security-test-offer

Topics: Phishing



Subscribe to Our Blog


Comprehensive Anti-Phishing Guide




Get the latest about social engineering

Subscribe to CyberheistNews