October isn’t just another month. It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month, promoted worldwide by agencies like CISA in the US and ENISA in Europe. Their message is simple but urgent: cybersecurity is not just an IT problem, it’s a people problem.
Awareness saves systems, organizations, and sometimes entire communities.
At Baited, we believe the same – but with a twist: awareness is not about fear, it’s about empowerment.
Once upon a dumpster and a shredder
Let’s rewind.
Back in the early days, before phishing was digital, attackers played analog. They (we) rummaged through paper waste, searching for forgotten memos, passwords on sticky notes, or shredded-but-readable codes. It was messy, hands-on, and strangely magical.
There was a detective thrill in pulling secrets from discarded paper.
Fast-forward to today: all that physical magic has moved online. No more late-night dumpster dives. Now it takes one crafted email, an AI-written lure, and a moment of human curiosity. The click is the new crumpled memo.
What changed and what stayed the same
What changed:
- scale: thousands of emails, millions of targets, global reach in seconds
- automation & AI: machine learning personalizes subject lines, forges logos, even adapts text to your LinkedIn profile
- attack surfaces: from emails to wearable apps, cloud backups, and mobile syncs, every convenience is a new opening
What stayed the same:
- human patterns: phishing still works because people trust, rush, get curious, or panic
- the bait: then it was a printed memo; now it’s a fake payroll notice or “account update”
- the delay: just as dumpster divers sifted quietly, modern phishers often lie in wait, harvesting data slowly and silently
The tools changed. The psychology didn’t.
Why October matters
CISA and ENISA dedicate this month to a shared goal: turning awareness into action. It’s not about remembering passwords once a year, it’s about reshaping habits.
- Pause before clicking.
- Hover links before trusting.
- Report “almost-clicks.”
- Treat every unexpected email as a test.
- Replace fear with confidence.
This is exactly where Baited comes in: our simulations are not about catching mistakes, but about training as empowerment. We flip fear into growth. Every phishing test becomes a safe failure, a lesson learned, and a step toward resilience.
Closing thought
Phishing has always preyed on human patterns. That’s why October isn’t just a campaign — it’s a reminder that people are the real defense. Technology helps, but confidence is built when humans feel ready, not scared.
That’s the mission we carry into this month:
- follow our October series (#PacketHunters and #Decoded)
- subscribe to Bait me up – our free curated newsletter with stories, stats, and simulations you won’t want to miss (we’re launching next week)
✍️ Decoded: Nerd Thoughts is my monthly playground, where retro vibes meet today’s threats. This edition kicks off October’s theme: cybersecurity awareness. From basics to AI-powered lures, we’ll dive deep all month. And don’t miss our wrap-up, The Catch #2, dropping end of October, Bruce approved.
GLHF 😉
Chief Marketing Officer • social engineer OSINT/SOC/HUMINT • cyberculture • security analyst • polymath • COBOL programmer • nerd • retrogamer
