University of Hawaiʻi Maui College Hosts Phishing Awareness Clinic Amid Rising Threats

• •Phishing remains the top attack method in 2026, targeting individuals.
• •AI is enhancing the sophistication of phishing emails, complicating detection.
• •The clinic series is funded by a $1 million grant from Google's Cybersecurity Clinics Fund.

The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College is hosting a cybersecurity clinic titled 'Hook, Line, and Sinker: Real Stories of Successful Phishing Attacks' on April 22, 2026. This session is part of a series aimed at educating sole proprietors and registered businesses in Hawai‘i about phishing threats. Jodi Ito, the Chief Information Officer, highlighted that phishing remains the most effective attack method in 2026, primarily targeting individuals rather than systems. The sophistication of phishing attacks has increased due to artificial intelligence, which enables the creation of personalized phishing emails that are harder to detect. The clinic series is funded by a $1 million grant from Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund, part of a nationwide initiative to improve cybersecurity awareness. This event is expected to attract local businesses concerned about cybersecurity risks.