Phishing attacks are evolving rapidly, becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect. In 2025, cybercriminals are using AI-driven scams, deepfake technology, and advanced social engineering tactics to trick individuals and businesses into revealing sensitive information. Over 3.4 billion phishing emails are sent daily—many using AI.

With phishing responsible for over 90% of data breaches, understanding the latest threats and knowing how to protect yourself is crucial. Below are the top five phishing attacks in 2025 and what you can do to stay safe.

1. AI-Generated Phishing Emails

Attackers are now using AI-powered tools to create highly personalized phishing emails that mimic the writing style of real people. These emails often appear to come from a trusted colleague, your bank, or a known vendor, making them harder to spot. AI-generated phishing messages have fewer grammar mistakes, making them much more convincing than traditional scams.

How to protect your business:

• Always verify unexpected emails by calling the sender directly.
• Look for slight variations in email addresses or domain names.
• Use email security filters that detect AI-generated phishing attempts.

Deepfake Voice & Video Phishing (Vishing)

Deepfake technology is being used to clone voices and even generate fake video messages to deceive people into transferring money or sharing confidential data. Attackers can now call employees and sound exactly like their boss, instructing them to approve wire transfers or reset passwords.

How to protect your business:

• Always confirm financial or sensitive requests through a second communication channel.
• Train employees to recognize and question suspicious or urgent requests.
• Implement multi-factor authentication for financial transactions.

3. QR Code Phishing (Quishing)

QR code phishing, or “quishing,” has become a major threat in 2025. Hackers are placing malicious QR codes on emails, signs, or even fake customer service messages, tricking users into scanning them. Once scanned, they direct victims to fraudulent websites that steal login credentials or install malware.

How to protect your business:

• Never scan QR codes from untrusted sources.
• Use a QR code scanner that shows the full URL before opening the link.
• Be cautious of urgent messages asking you to scan a QR code for verification.

4. SaaS & Cloud Account Takeover Phishing

With more businesses relying on cloud-based applications, attackers are targeting Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and other SaaS platforms with fake login pages. Victims receive emails that appear to be from IT support, asking them to log in to “resolve an issue.” Once they enter their credentials, hackers gain full access to their business accounts.

How to protect your business:

• Always check the URL of any login page before entering credentials.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all cloud accounts.
• Train employees to recognize fake login attempts.

5. Supply Chain Phishing Attacks

Hackers are now targeting vendors and suppliers to compromise their communication channels. Instead of attacking companies directly, they infiltrate third-party systems and send fraudulent invoices, contract updates, or payment requests that appear to come from a trusted partner.

How to protect your business:

• Verify any changes to payment details directly with the vendor.
• Implement email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
• Use zero-trust security principles to minimize access to sensitive data.

Final Thoughts: Stay One Step Ahead of Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks in 2025 are more advanced than ever, using AI, deepfake technology, and social engineering to deceive victims. Being aware of these threats and implementing strong security measures is key to protecting yourself and your business.

If you want to strengthen your cybersecurity posture, WorkSmart can help. We provide advanced phishing protection, employee training, and security solutions to keep your business safe.

• Learn more about our Cyber Risk Assessment Service
• See how businesses are strengthening cybersecurity in our case study
• Join our free cybersecurity webinar for expert insights

Get in touch today and make sure your organization is phishing-proof.