Companies may be measuring phishing resilience the wrong way

Help Net Security

September 11, 2026 at 5:00 AM

Overview

A recent report from Pistachio has raised concerns about how companies evaluate their resilience against phishing attacks. Instead of focusing solely on the percentage of employees who click on simulated phishing emails, the report suggests that organizations should also consider other factors such as credential submission rates. The analysis included data from 648 organizations and over 123,000 users over a year. This broader approach to measuring phishing resilience is crucial because it can provide a clearer picture of an organization's vulnerability to real-world attacks. By understanding how employees interact with phishing attempts beyond just clicks, companies can better prepare themselves against actual phishing threats.

Key Takeaways

Action Required: Companies should reassess their phishing simulation programs to include metrics beyond click rates, focusing on credential submission and other interactions.
Timeline: Disclosed on October 2023

Original Article Summary

Companies that judge phishing simulation programs by how often employees click simulated attack emails may be overlooking more important indicators of cyber resilience, according to Pistachio’s Phishing Behaviour Report 2026. Examples of difficult simulations (Source: Pistachio) The analysis covered 648 organizations with a complete 12-month record and 123,692 users between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026. Its central finding is that phishing resilience is better understood through a combination of clicking, credential submission, and … More → The post Companies may be measuring phishing resilience the wrong way appeared first on Help Net Security.

Impact

Not specified

Exploitation Status

No active exploitation has been reported at this time. However, organizations should still apply patches promptly as proof-of-concept code may exist.

Timeline

Disclosed on October 2023

Remediation

Companies should reassess their phishing simulation programs to include metrics beyond click rates, focusing on credential submission and other interactions.

Additional Information

This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.

Related Topics: This incident relates to Phishing, Vulnerability.

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