Microsoft dominates 22% of all phishing attacks, a $800 tool tricks 60% of victims into self-hacking, and Apple's planning a surveillance pin that records everything—welcome to 2025's cybersecurity nightmare. In this episode of The Audit, co-hosts Joshua J Schmidt, Eric Brown, and Nick Mellem are joined by Jen Lotze from IT Audit Labs to dissect three headlines that prove the threat landscape isn't just evolving—it's accelerating. From brand impersonation scams that exploit your brain's pattern recognition to ClickFix malware that bypasses antivirus by weaponizing copy-paste commands, this conversation reveals how attackers are shifting from breaking through defenses to manipulating humans into opening the door themselves. 

What You'll Learn:

• Why trusted brands like Microsoft, Amazon, and DHL are irresistible phishing targets, especially during high-traffic seasons when vigilance naturally drops
• How ClickFix attacks exploit legitimate-looking broken websites to trick users into installing malware through their own command prompts—achieving 60% success rates that evade traditional security
• Real-world consequences of sophisticated social engineering, including a $116,000 wire fraud loss that proves even tech-savvy professionals aren't immune
• The privacy and consent implications of Apple's rumored 2027 AI wearable with dual cameras and always-on environmental recording
• Whether constant surveillance is becoming the unavoidable price of technological convenience—and what that means for building security cultures in organizations today

From training employees to recognize copy-paste scams to navigating the ethics of ambient recording devices, this episode delivers frontline intelligence for security professionals and practical awareness for anyone trying to stay safe online.

#phishing #clickfix #cybersecurity #socialengineering #applewearable #privacy #malware #infosec #brandimpersonation