I wrote this article because I wanted a deeper understanding of how artificial intelligence is reshaping cybersecurity, especially in ways that create new risks. As I studied how attackers use AI to sharpen their phishing tactics, I realized the public conversation often ignores the deeper issue. Cyberattacks succeed because human psychology is predictable. I decided to write about what I learned so anyone interested in cybersecurity can understand why people fall for these attacks and how organizations can protect themselves.
In the fourth quarter of 2024 the world recorded more than 989,000 unique phishing attacks. This marked a slight increase from the previous quarter and confirmed that phishing remains a dominant entry point for cybercriminals (Statista, 2024). Phishing is a form of social engineering where an attacker sends a deceptive email that attempts to steal sensitive information or trigger harmful actions. The consequences can include data breaches, service shutdowns, financial loss, identity fraud, and ransomware deployment (CISA, 2024).
Attackers often imitate trusted organizations or familiar colleagues. Their messages usually contain an enticing request or an urgent prompt. They may appeal to curiosity, fear, reward, authority or desire for quick action. These messages work because the human mind is vulnerable in consistent ways. Our emotional reactions can override logical thinking. Our cognitive shortcuts help us make quick decisions but also expose us to manipulation. Examples include confirmation bias, authority bias, scarcity bias and optimism bias.
When a message appears to come from someone we trust, or when it claims something urgent is at stake, the mind can shift into an automatic mode. In this mode people respond quickly instead of verifying details. Attackers design their messages to trigger this state. AI now makes this manipulation easier. With AI a criminal can generate more realistic messages tailored to a person’s role and behavior. This increases the likelihood that a target reacts without questioning the message.
Healthcare organizations and small businesses face even higher risk. These environments often operate with limited staff, fast workflows and heavy workloads. This increases stress and decreases the time available to evaluate suspicious messages. Attackers take advantage of this. They know that tired or distracted employees are more likely to trust a message that appears routine.
By understanding these psychological factors, individuals and organizations can respond with stronger protection. Security training that focuses only on technical steps is no longer enough. People need simple, repeating lessons that focus on behavior, mental habits and real-world examples. When individuals understand the emotional triggers behind phishing, they are more likely to pause, verify and make safer decisions.
This article is part of my ongoing exploration of human risk in cybersecurity. I am especially focused on how psychological factors shape phishing success. As I continue researching the intersection of human behavior and cyberattacks, I am also developing tools that help small organizations, especially clinics and small businesses, understand and reduce their human-risk exposure. If you work in healthcare, cybersecurity or a small organization and would like to share your experiences, I would be glad to connect.
CISA. (2024). Phishing Guidance and Social Engineering Resources. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
https://www.cisa.gov
Statista. (2024). Number of unique phishing websites detected worldwide from 2019 to 2024.
https://www.statista.com
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). (2024). Internet Crime Report.
https://www.ic3.gov
Verizon. (2024). Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR).
https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2023). Special Publication 800-50: Building an Information Technology Security Awareness and Training Program.
https://csrc.nist.gov
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