The vast majority of phishing attacks are now generated by AI, experts warn (www.techradar.com)

A recent report reveals that a staggering 86% of phishing attacks are now powered by artificial intelligence, marking a significant shift in cyber threats. AI's ability to generate highly personalized and convincing phishing messages has led to a sevenfold increase in the efficiency of these attacks compared to traditional methods. Notably, phishing tactics have expanded beyond email, with a 49% rise in calendar invite attacks and a 41% increase in Microsoft Teams assaults over the past six months. This evolution underscores a growing concern that collaboration tools and messaging platforms have become prime targets for cybercriminals. The rise of AI-driven phishing not only enhances the sophistication of attacks but also democratizes the capability to execute them, giving rise to phishing-as-a-service, which simplifies the attack process for less experienced users. The report highlights that internal impersonation—where attackers mimic colleagues or executives—constitutes nearly 30% of these threats, complicating the task of identifying malicious communications. As social engineering tactics become more subtle and targeted, experts advocate for a robust defense ecosystem that incorporates deep behavioral analytics and real-time threat intelligence while emphasizing the need for employee vigilance to thwart these advanced phishing attempts.