Cybersecurity Tip of the Week – Why Phishing Preparedness Still Matters

We are three weeks away from October, which is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. We're taking these few weeks to do a deeper dive into Phishing and both help explain why it is still a billion-dollar business, and how you can protect yourself and loved ones from being victims.

Phishing isn't a relic of the early internet. It is a thriving industry because it exploits something technology can't fix - human psychology. Firewalls, endpoint detection, and spam filters stop a lot, but they can't stop you from clicking a link if you are in a hurry or not paying attention. Almost 70% of data breaches involve the human. The solution is building resilience through awareness and good cyber hygiene habits.

Why Phishing Works: The Psychology at Play

Phishing is successful because it manipulates how our brains make quick decisions. We like to think we're rational, but some of our decision-making is fast, emotional, and automatic. Scammers know this, and they design their messages with these in mind:

• Urgency and Fear - a warning that your bank account will be frozen, or your email deleted, in 24 hours, creates panic, which short-circuits critical thinking.
• Authority and Trust - messages that look like they are from your direct supervisor, or higher up even, exploit our natural tendency to obey authority and want to help.
• Scarcity and Reward - limited-time offers, prize notifications, or "first come, first served" opportunities tap into our fear of missing out.
• Curiosity and Routine - "view invoice", "track shipment", or "see attachment" messages play on everyday tasks. Usually, the simplest messages can yield the highest click rates.

This mix of emotional pressure and familiar context makes phishing still an effective means of manipulating humans to give away money or information.

Next week, we'll look at some real-world examples you've probably seen in your daily life.

Be cautious, stay informed, and report any suspicious communication to [email protected].