Proofpoint Exec: ‘Phishing is the Leading Cause of Breaches Globally’

At Proofpoint Protect 2025, speakers emphasized that AI is dramatically reducing attacker effort for phishing, increasing remote access and QR-code–based threats, and enabling automated, rapidly adaptive campaigns; Proofpoint observed that 34% of URL-based malware campaigns now deliver remote access software and tracked 4.2 million QR threats in H1 2025, while risky user behavior and frequent MFA-bypass attempts persist. Vendors are countering with specialized, frequently updated AI models and defense-in-depth email controls, but leaders warn AI agents are highly susceptible to social engineering, reinforcing the need for strong guardrails, continuous training, and layered protections.