FL-KNOWBE4
18.1.2023 14:01:41 CET | Business Wire | Press release
KnowBe4, the provider of the world’s largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, today announced the results of its 2022 and Q4 2022 top-clicked phishing report. The results include the top email subjects clicked in phishing tests, top attack vector types, holiday phishing email subjects and more insightful information that reveal the most popular phishing email tactics.
Phishing emails continue to be one of the most common and effective methods to maliciously impact a variety of organizations around the world – everyone is a potential victim. Cybercriminals constantly refine their strategies to outsmart end users and organizations by changing phishing email subjects to be more believable and attention grabbing. This shift in phishing tactics over time is evident in the increasing trend of cybercriminals using business-related email subjects.
Business phishing emails are lucrative and successful because of their potential to affect a user’s workday and routine. These include emails from HR, IT, managers and web services such as Google and Amazon. KnowBe4’s 2022 phishing test results reveal that for the year, nearly 50% of email subjects were HR related, while the other half were related to career development, IT and work project notifications. These types of emails bait recipients into opening them and are likely successful because they create a sense of urgency in users to act quickly, sometimes without thinking and taking the time to question the email’s legitimacy.
Additionally, this year’s phishing tests revealed the top vector for the year to be phishing links in the body of an email, which has stayed consistent for the last three consecutive quarters. The combination of these phishing tactics is clearly a working strategy for cybercriminals but detrimental to users and organizations as they can lead to cyber attacks such as business email compromise and ransomware.
Along with an increased utilization of more business-related emails and links within emails, the Q4 2022 phishing test also shares the top holiday phishing email subjects. The holiday season is one of the busiest times of year for online activities and cybercriminals count on end users having their guards down when it comes to staying alert and spotting phishing emails. Like general phishing email subjects, holiday phishing email subjects consist of emails from HR and IT, however, they are also tailored to the holiday season and the festivities that typically happen during that time of the year by mentioning holiday parties, gifts, food and more.
“Cybercriminals are smart and pay attention to what works and what does not when it comes to effective phishing emails,” said Stu Sjouwerman, CEO, KnowBe4. “This is why we see email subjects evolve and upgrade over time to keep up with end users and what they may be susceptible to. Phishing emails are a year-round threat and remain a challenge during the holiday season as well – holiday phishing emails are the one gift that no one wants to receive in their inbox. KnowBe4’s phishing test reports emphasize the importance of new-school security awareness training that educate users on the latest and most common cyber attacks and threats. A strong security culture and an educated workforce is an organization’s best defense to remain vigilant and stay safe online from cybercriminals and their attempted threats.”
To download a copy of the 2022 and the Q4 2022 KnowBe4 Phishing Infographics, visit here and here.
About KnowBe4
KnowBe4, the provider of the world’s largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, is used by more than 54,000 organizations around the globe. Founded by IT and data security specialist Stu Sjouwerman, KnowBe4 helps organizations address the human element of security by raising awareness about ransomware, CEO fraud and other social engineering tactics through a new-school approach to awareness training on security. Kevin Mitnick, an internationally recognized cybersecurity specialist and KnowBe4’s Chief Hacking Officer, helped design the KnowBe4 training based on his well-documented social engineering tactics. Tens of thousands of organizations rely on KnowBe4 to mobilize their end users as their last line of defense.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230118005172/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Three Weeks into France E-Invoicing Mandate: Sovos Hits Unparalleled Production Scale23.9.2026 10:00:00 CEST | Press release
With 170,000 registrants - 78x the registered network reach of the nearest tax compliance competitor - Sovos demonstrates unmatched production scale across direct clients and every software platform embedding its Compliance Network Sovos, the agentic tax compliance company, today announced that it has surpassed 170,000 organizations registrants across the Sovos-powered network – including both Sovos-branded and partner-branded approved service providers - using Sovos technology in France. By comparison, the nearest competitors registered fewer than 2,200 organizations each. The milestone represents a significant lead in production-grade e-invoicing, with Sovos handling transaction volumes that are many multiples higher than any other tax compliance vendor operating in France. "France represents the most complex continuous transaction controls mandate the world has seen, and we entered production on day one with our Global 2000 clients fully live," said Kevin Akeroyd, CEO, Sovos. "We ac
Thredd Partners with Velocity to Expand Global Payments Platform, Offer Stablecoin-Powered Money Movement23.9.2026 09:00:00 CEST | Press release
New capabilities will connect cards, fiat payment rails, and stablecoins through one integrated platform experience Thredd, the AI-first issuer processing platform, today announced the expansion of its payments platform to include stablecoin-powered money movement capabilities, through a partnership with Velocity, the stablecoin treasury and settlement platform bringing enterprises onchain. The initial rollout of these capabilities will focus on supporting B2B and B2B2B applications, including stablecoin-backed card programmes, cross-border payouts, global treasury flows and on-chain settlement. Thredd clients will now be able to convert between fiat currencies and supported stablecoins, send funds on-chain or through connected fiat rails, and use stablecoins for funding, payouts and settlement. “Stablecoins are rapidly becoming an important part of global payments infrastructure, but clients should not have to rebuild their payments stack to take advantage of them,” said Jim McCarthy,
Mentimeter Launches Three New Tools for Better Leadership23.9.2026 09:00:00 CEST | Press release
Mentimeter is launching an engagement suite with three new tools: Menti Live, Menti Form and Menti Pulse. Through interaction, insights and recommendations, the new suite enables organizations to engage people live, collect input asynchronously and track important signals over time. Today’s launch expands Mentimeter’s platform beyond live presentations, helping turn participation into new ways of understanding what people think, know and need. “Most organizations have plenty of data, but surprisingly little understanding of what their people actually think. These new tools give leaders a way to turn participation into company-wide performance – in the room, afterward and over time. That creates better input for action and, ultimately, better leadership,” says Johnny Warström, CEO and founder of Mentimeter. Three tools for different moments of engagement Menti Form collects input asynchronously. It allows for shared reflection and gives people the opportunity to contribute regardless of
EADV 2026: Galderma to Unveil New Data Advancing Understanding of Skin Diseases, Skin Longevity, and Real-world Patient Experiences23.9.2026 07:00:00 CEST | Press release
Galderma will present 19 abstracts, including two oral presentations, at the 2026 EADV Congress, with new data on skin diseases, skin longevity and real-world patient experiences New analyses from the Nemluvio® (nemolizumab) clinical development program will explore long-term data, in line with Galderma’s commitment to improving the outcomes that matter most to patients1-7 Galderma will also present new research on sensitive skin, dermatoporosis, and acne, evaluating more personalized management approaches and the role of skincare in maintaining barrier function, skin resilience, and longevity8-19 The company will also host educational activities, including a symposium on atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis, an Industry Expert Hub session on targeting cellular senescence for skin longevity, a Cetaphil® Innovation Forum and Meet-the-Expert sessions and masterclasses Together, these presentations reflect Galderma's commitment to advancing scientific understanding, helping to shape th
Oticon Medical Launches SmartCharger for the Ponto 5 Family23.9.2026 07:00:00 CEST | Press release
Oticon Medical’s first rechargeable solution for Ponto sound processors Oticon Medical today announces the launch of SmartCharger for the Ponto 5 family, introducing its first rechargeable solution for percutaneous sound processors and marking a new step in convenience and portability for bone anchored hearing system users. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260922863462/en/ Oticon Medical today announces the launch of SmartCharger for the Ponto 5 family, introducing its first rechargeable solution for percutaneous sound processors and marking a new step in convenience and portability for bone anchored hearing system users. Powering the Ponto 5 family The launch of SmartCharger underlines Oticon Medical’s continued commitment to the Ponto family, which includes Ponto 5 SuperPower, the world’s most powerful abutment-level sound processor,1 and Ponto 5 Mini, the world’s smallest percutaneous sound processor.1 By br
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom