Why Phishing Is Still the #1 Entry Point for Cybercriminals
4 min read · February 2025 · By IntrusionX Security Team
More than 90% of successful cyberattacks begin with a phishing email. Despite decades of awareness campaigns, phishing remains devastatingly effective — and attackers are getting better at it every year, using AI to craft personalised, convincing messages at scale.
What Is Phishing?
Phishing is a social engineering attack where criminals impersonate trusted organisations — banks, the ATO, Australia Post, Microsoft, or even your own colleagues — to trick you into revealing passwords, clicking malicious links, or transferring money.
Common Phishing Tactics Used Against Australians
Fake ATO or myGov Notices
Emails claiming you owe a tax debt or that your account needs verification — linking to convincing fake login pages.
Australia Post / Courier Scams
SMS and email messages claiming a parcel is held, requiring you to pay a small fee or enter delivery details.
Business Email Compromise (BEC)
Attackers impersonate a CEO or finance manager to instruct staff to transfer funds urgently or update bank account details.
Microsoft / Google Account Alerts
Fake security alerts claiming your account has been compromised, directing you to enter credentials on a spoofed login page.
Invoice Fraud
Legitimate-looking invoices from impersonated suppliers with modified bank account details to redirect payments.
How to Spot a Phishing Email
How to Protect Against Phishing
IntrusionX Email & Phishing Security includes anti-phishing filters, attachment sandboxing, BEC protection and real-time URL blocking — stopping phishing attacks before they reach your inbox.