AI Is Driving a Shift in Targeted Email Attacks

Barracuda's Neal Bradbury on How AI-Powered Attacks Outpace Traditional Defenses Rahul Neel Mani (@rneelmani) • December 9, 2025

Cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence to craft tailored email-based attacks that bypass traditional defenses. This shift to targeted email compromise and rising volumes of sophisticated tactics have placed new pressure on organizations, said Neal Bradbury, chief product officer at Barracuda.

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"Almost 80% of businesses have had some type of email breach in the last 12 months," Bradbury said, noting that many business email compromises use AI-aided spear-phishing and personal data lifted from social media accounts craft emails "that someone will click or someone will effectively fall for."

Email security, multifactor authentication and endpoint security should be the top priority for security professionals, he said. "When you look at the sophistication levels that vary with resource-constrained organizations, starting with email is a ...