Employee Trust in Digital Communications Grows Amid Deepfake Risks

• •46% of employees trust digital communications more than five years ago.
• •55% of respondents do not verify senders before acting on sensitive requests.
• •72% have clicked links from known contacts without verification.

A global survey by WatchGuard Technologies reveals that 46% of employees trust digital communications more than they did five years ago, despite the rise of deepfake technology. The survey, which included over 500 full-time employees from eight countries, found that 55% do not always verify the sender before responding to sensitive requests. Familiar names and details still heavily influence trust, with 72% admitting to clicking links from known senders without verification. The report emphasizes the need for improved verification training as AI makes impersonation easier. Notably, 42% would trust urgent requests from their CEO without verification. The findings indicate a significant gap in cybersecurity awareness among employees, leaving organizations vulnerable to impersonation and fraud.