Phishing reclaims the top initial access spot, attackers experiment with AI tools

Phishing returned as the leading method attackers used to break into organizations in the first quarter of 2026, accounting for over a third of engagements where initial access could be determined, according to Cisco Talos. It is the first quarter phishing has led the category since Q2 2025, when exploitation of public-facing applications took over following widespread attacks against on-premises Microsoft SharePoint servers. That SharePoint exploitation wave, collectively tracked as ToolShell, drove public-facing application exploitation … More →