The Phish Scale: NIST’s New Tool Helps IT Staff See Why Users Click on Fraudulent Emails

Phishing illustration shows a silhouette of a toothy fish above a piece of computer equipment labeled "NIST."

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new tool called the Phish Scale that could help organizations better train their employees to avoid a particularly dangerous form of cyberattack known as phishing.

By 2021, global cybercrime damages will cost $6 trillion annually, up from $3 trillion in 2015, according to estimates from the 2020 Official Annual Cybercrime Report by Cybersecurity Ventures.

Search engine illustration shows magnifying glass over networked icons for digital materials like email and social media.

Staff Spotlight: NIST Usable Cybersecurity

April 1, 2020
This Cybersecurity Insights blog post highlights the recent research efforts of Kristen Greene, a cognitive scientist in at NIST who specializes in phishing scams.
Read More

Video: You've Been Phished

June 4, 2018
Why do so many people still click? NIST research has uncovered one reason, and the findings could help CIOs mount a better defense.
Watch Video