If you’re not concerned about AI making humans extinct by the end of this decade, here’s a number that should definitely scare you and your business. According to the CrowdStrike 2026 Global Threat Report, one number stands out: an 89% increase in attacks by AI-enabled adversaries. That’s mainly because AI has made it easy for bad actors to fool even the most dedicated employee and executive. Worse, attackers don’t need to be technological wizards; they just need to know how to manipulate trusting people.

The internet has everything, everywhere, all at once

Remember that information is easy to find online. Criminals can learn about a company’s details, its offices, its employees, and their titles in multiple places on the internet. Then those same bad actors can track those employees through sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and so on. This information lets bad actors impersonate colleagues, bosses, suppliers, or other entities that might make a legitimate request for gated or secure data.

The main social engineering threats are:

Phishing: Fraudulent emails that look like they come from trusted sources, tricking the target into clicking on malicious links or sharing login credentials.

Vishing (voice phishing): Phone calls or voicemails from attackers posing as representatives from banks, suppliers, tech support personnel, even people you work with or work for. AI voice cloning has made it nearly impossible to distinguish the cloned voice from the real person.

Smishing (SMS phishing): CrowdStrike notes this as “Fraudulent text messages claiming an urgent issue, such as an undelivered package or a bank alert, containing a malicious link.”

Quishing (QR code phishing): Malicious QR codes placed on physical flyers or digital ads that direct you to fake websites to steal data or prompt harmful downloads.

Spear Phishing: This takes phishing to the next level, targeting a specific individual or employee using customized, researched information.

Whaling: (this threat may be missing the “sh” but it’s still incredibly dangerous for a company’s data security): According to Cisco Systems, “Whaling is a specialized type of phishing attack that targets high-profile individuals, such as C-level executives, board members, or top organizational leaders, to steal money or sensitive data.”

The response to threats: Trust but verify

It’s sad that these are the times we live in, but these are the times we do indeed live in. The best way to protect yourself and your business is to no longer trust your eyes and ears alone. The following steps may not prevent every attack from getting through, but they will hopefully reduce the number of incidents.

Be aware of warning signs: Any communication (phone call, text, email) that sounds urgent, requests personal data, or has unexpected attachments should be viewed with suspicion and verified. Do that by contacting the real sender at their known contact number or email in real time. Do not use the phone number or email address on the suspicious message.

Enable multifactor authentication (MFA): This adds an extra layer of security to accounts, ensuring that passwords alone aren’t enough for entry to private data.

Keep software updated: Regularly update operating systems, browsers, and security tools to patch vulnerabilities.

Training throughout the organization: Every time one form of attack is addressed, bad actors come up with a new approach. That’s why cybersecurity training for every employee is so important and needs to be ongoing. Remember: Anyone can be fooled.

Test, test, test: Your IT department should test all employees by sending out phishing emails to check if your people are following security protocols. Provide a way for them to report the communication. For those who click on a link or attachment, extra training should be provided.

Your employees are your strongest defense and your biggest target

Cybercriminals know that breaking into a network is often just a matter of tricking one person. That’s why every employee, from the front desk to the corner office, has become a target. Technology plays a critical role in protecting your business, but there is no software update, firewall, or AI tool that can completely replace good judgment.

The organizations that will be most successful at fighting phishing, vishing, smishing, quishing, spear phishing, and whatever new “-shing” attack comes next are the ones that create a culture of awareness, skepticism, and verification. Because in an era where almost anything can be faked, your best defense is making sure your people know when not to trust what they see, hear, or click.