Six in ten users face daily phishing attacks, claims study

More than half of all workers in the UK are delivered one or more phishing emails every day, according to security firm PhishMe.

The company posted the findings of a survey which claimed that some 60 percent of end users were finding phishing attempts in their inbox which had bypassed spam filters and other security protections.

Additionally, six percent of users surveyed reported being bombarded with 10 or more phishing emails every day.

PhishMe, which specialises in security awareness and best practice training, claimed that the study shows traditional email security protections are falling short.

"Many users could click on a link or open an attachment and then carry on working, without being fully aware of the implications of their actions," suggested vice president of product management and services Scott Greaux.

"User education is essential – adding 'human sensors' to your security infrastructure improves overall security posture and helps ensure users don’t fall victim."

PhishMe is not alone in its findings of increased phishing activity. Researchers believe that the trafficking in stolen data has left tens of millions of account credentials and other user information circulating among criminal groups.

Targeted phishing attacks, which are often far more effective in tricking users into handing over critical data, are also on the rise as both industrial and state-sponsored groups have sought to infiltrate corporate networks.