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Understanding the Risks of Phishing: Insights from KnowBe4's Recent Study

In a world increasingly exposed to cyber threats, understanding the dynamics of phishing is more crucial than ever. KnowBe4, a leading cybersecurity platform, has released its Q2 2025 Simulated Phishing Roundup report, shedding light on persistent vulnerabilities among employees when faced with deceptive emails. From April 1 to June 30, 2025, data was gathered through KnowBe4's HRM+ platform, revealing alarming trends in the way phishing attacks are executed and perceived.

Key Findings

Consistent Patterns

One of the most striking aspects of the report is the consistency with previous quarters, particularly Q1 2025. The trends indicate that employees remain highly susceptible to social engineering attacks that exploit familiarity. Approximately 98% of the top-clicked emails are those appearing to originate from trusted internal sources or well-known brands.

Internal Themes Dominate the Scene

Among the top ten most-clicked email templates, internal-themed topics led the way, accounting for a staggering 98.4%. In particular, emails mimicking Human Resources (HR) communications were responsible for 42.5% of phishing failures, with IT-related emails accounting for 21.5%. This preference for internal topics emphasizes the trust employees place in familiar voices within their organizations.

Branded Content as a Tool for Deception

Interestingly, 71.9% of malicious landing pages in phishing simulations utilized branded content to lure unsuspecting victims. Microsoft led the pack, representing 26.7% of the phishing content, followed by LinkedIn, Okta, and even Amazon. Such manipulations exploit the victims' trust in recognizable brands, significantly increasing the likelihood of interaction with the malicious material.

The Role of Clicked Hyperlinks

The report highlighted that 80.6% of the twenty most-clicked links derived from internally themed simulations. A significant portion, 68.2%, employed domain spoofing techniques, further complicating the ability of employees to detect malicious intent.

Rise in PDF Attachments

Another alarming finding was the increase in clicks related to PDF attachments, which rose by 8.1% compared to the first quarter. PDF files made up 61.1% of the top twenty attachments, followed by HTML files and Word documents. This increase suggests an evolving tactic among phishing attackers to leverage commonly used file types in their schemes.

The Psychological Aspect of Trust

Erich Kron, a cybersecurity advocate at KnowBe4, noted that trust plays a pivotal role in cybersecurity effectiveness. Attackers consistently exploit this trust through emails that seem to originate from reputable sources—whether they are internal communications or known brands. This phenomenon makes it challenging for employees to differentiate between legitimate and malicious emails.

Kron stressed the importance of a layered defense approach in strengthening an organization's cybersecurity posture, urging companies to empower their workforce through adaptive security training and intelligent detection technologies. This proactive strategy is vital in identifying and mitigating threats swiftly.

Final Thoughts

The findings from KnowBe4's Q2 2025 report provide essential insights into the persistent issues surrounding phishing attacks. The data unequivocally underscores the need for organizations to fortify their human defenses. By fostering a culture of security awareness and equipping employees with the necessary tools to recognize and respond to phishing threats, companies can significantly reduce their vulnerability to such attacks.

As cybersecurity threats evolve, so too must the strategies employed to combat them. With the right training and resources, every employee can transition from being a potential victim to a vital part of their organization's defense network against phishing and other cyber threats.

For more detailed insights and to download the complete report, visit KnowBe4's website.