It's Estimated That 91% Of Cyber Attacks Begin With Phishing Emails

Imagine logging into your email account one morning to find a message that seems harmless. Maybe it's an update from a company you frequently shop with or a notification from a bank about a supposed transaction. Whatever the case, the email contains a link that you'll eventually click out of curiosity or a false sense of security. Suddenly, your life has changed dramatically.

This scenario is more common than you might think. In fact, a staggering 91% of cyberattacks begin with phishing emails. The numbers are jarring, especially when you consider that about 35% of those phishing attacks lead to ransomware - a malicious program that encrypts your device's data and demands a hefty fee for the decryption key.

But here's the question on everyone's mind: how are we still falling for these simple tricks? The world has come a long way in terms of technology. Still, we seem to be repeating the same mistakes - clicking on suspicious links and giving cybercriminals an open door to wreak havoc on our digital lives.

The reality is that our failure to adapt to this new threat landscape stems from a lack of awareness. Cybersecurity education should be our top priority. We need to be aware of the most common phishing tactics, including messages that claim your account is about to be deleted unless you take a certain action or appear to come from email addresses that almost perfectly mimic the real thing.

Effective cybersecurity education starts from the employees within an organization and trickles down to individuals and families. Organizations, in particular, should prioritize cybersecurity as an essential element of operations. Key strategies for reinforcing cybersecurity include enhancing employee cybersecurity awareness by incorporating workshops and seminars to educate them on identifying cyber threats to understanding the risks and consequences associated with phishing emails, especially those with ransomware.