Most people still can’t identify a phishing attack written by AI - and that's a huge problem, survey warns

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Younger generations are more susceptible to phishing

A person holding out their hand with a digital AI symbol.
(Image credit: Shutterstock / LookerStudio)
  • Yubico warns social engineering attacks are getting more powerful thanks to AI
  • Gen Z are the most susceptible to phishing
  • Almost half have never received any cybersecurity training

We’ve all heard the warnings about the damage social engineering can do - but one particular demographic still stands out as the most susceptible to attacks - and it might not be who you think.

New research from Yubico claims Gen Z workers (those born between 1997 and 2012) are the ones letting the side down, with an alarming 62% reporting having engaged with a social engineering attack (opening an attachment, clicking a link, etc.) in the past year.

Social engineering attacks are not just becoming more frequent, but more powerful too - it’s been widely reported how AI-powered phishing attacks are on the rise and getting smarter, claiming more victims than ever with convincing deepfakes and voice clones.

Low confidence

In fact, a large majority (70%) of those surveyed said they believe phishing attempts have become more successful thanks to the use of AI, and a staggering 78% have seen these become more sophisticated.

When presented with a phishing email, the majority (54%) believed it was authentically written by a human, or were unsure, highlighting how convincing these attacks have become - although respondents of all ages scored similarly in this task.

Worryingly, a large proportion of workers reported never having received cybersecurity training (40%), and the deployment rate for Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is just under half (48%) - meaning a large proportion of organizations are left unprotected on a very basic level.

Only 26% of those surveyed considered passwords to be the most secure authentication method, but they remain the most common - with 56% using them for work accounts and 60% using them for their personal accounts.

If you’re going to rely on passwords, make sure you choose one that’s ultra-safe - we’ve listed some tips on creating a secure password to help you stay safe online.

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Ellen Jennings-Trace
Ellen Jennings-Trace
Staff Writer

Ellen has been writing for almost four years, with a focus on post-COVID policy whilst studying for BA Politics and International Relations at the University of Cardiff, followed by an MA in Political Communication. Before joining TechRadar Pro as a Junior Writer, she worked for Future Publishing’s MVC content team, working with merchants and retailers to upload content.

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