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Sleep Deprivation Increases Phishing Click Rates by 13%

Sleep Deprivation Increases Phishing Click Rates by 13%

First seen 10 Nov 2026, 03:38 UTC • •
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ThreatCluster AI
ThreatCluster •November 10, 2026 at 03:39 UTC
  • •Phishing click rates increased by 13% after daylight saving time transition.
  • •Study involved over 11,000 employees testing simulated phishing emails.
  • •Sleep deprivation impacts decision-making, with broader implications beyond cybersecurity.

A study by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, found that after the transition to daylight saving time, employees were 13% more likely to click on phishing links in simulated emails. The study involved over 11,000 employees and revealed that the click rate rose from 15.56% to 17.76% on the Monday following the time change. This increase is attributed to a minor loss of sleep, which can impair decision-making. The findings suggest that sleep deprivation can have broader implications beyond cybersecurity, affecting daily decision-making. The results were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers urge employers to consider the risks associated with sleep disruption during periods like holidays or major events.

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Timeline

2026-11-09
Study results published
Researchers published findings showing a 13% increase in phishing click rates after daylight saving time transition.
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Common questions

How does sleep deprivation affect phishing susceptibility?
The study indicates that even minor sleep loss can impair decision-making, leading to higher susceptibility to phishing attacks.
What was the sample size of the study?
The study involved over 11,000 employees from a large institution.
What are the broader implications of this research?
The findings suggest that sleep deprivation may affect various daily decisions, not just those related to cybersecurity.