Multitasking Makes Workers More Vulnerable To Phishing Scams

Workers juggling multiple tasks are significantly more likely to fall victim to phishing emails. A study found people asked to remember 8 digits while evaluating emails showed worse judgment than those remembering just two digits. Researchers tested over 900 participants across two online experiments. Results revealed that higher working memory load reduced phishing detection accuracy. Brief reminders telling participants to focus on detecting phishing improved accuracy, especially for reward-style messages like prize notifications. The findings suggest security training should mimic busy work conditions rather than distraction-free environments. (Story URL)