How Efficiency Can Lead to Disruption: The Evolution of Phishing Emails

Despite increasing awareness and training, phishing emails remain the most common entry point for cybercrime. This talk explores how their continued success is not simply due to attacker sophistication, but a predictable outcome of a system designed for efficiency. As companies encourage fast digital interactions from their employees, such as skimming emails or trusting familiar interfaces, exploitation becomes easier. Drawing on research in human factors and psychology, this talk reframes susceptibility as a systemic issue rather than individual failure. It concludes by considering how we can change company culture and improve cyber security education to prevent attacks.


Becky is a final-year Computer Science student at the University of Birmingham, currently completing a year-long placement with the West Midlands Regional Cyber Crime Unit (WM Police). There, she has supported front-line cybercrime investigations and delivered cyber security training to businesses, charities, and schools across the region.

Through this experience, she has developed a strong interest in the human factors behind cybercrime. Through in-depth academic reading she has explored questions such as what makes individuals susceptible to phishing emails and how people make decisions when identifying potential threats.

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Becky

Becky is a final-year Computer Science student at the University of Birmingham, currently completing a year-long placement with the West Midlands Regional Cyber Crime Unit. There, she supports front-line cybercrime investigations and delivers cyber security training to businesses, charities, and schools across the region. She is an executive member of CyberWomen@Birmingham and STEM ambassador, and is passionate about using education to encourage more women and girls into cyber security.