Revenge Clicks: The Hidden Cybersecurity Risk of Toxic Workplace Culture
When you think of Cyber Security, what springs to mind? Firewalls? Encryption? Intrusion detection systems?
What if I said culture? A massively, often-overlooked vulnerability. More specifically, toxic workplace environments.
It didn’t spring to mind, did it?
However, a toxic culture, bad management, and poor leadership can foster behaviour that compromises security. I’m talking "revenge clicks."
What Are Revenge Clicks?
"Revenge clicks" refer to instances where disgruntled employees, feeling marginalised or mistreated, intentionally engage with phishing emails or malicious links as an act of retaliation against their employer.c
However, you’ve upset your people, a revenge click makes a mighty whack back. It’s not merely negligent; it's a deliberate attempt to harm your organisation from within.
The Real-World Implications
Phishing emails provide employees with easy access to enact revenge. And proving they did it with the intent to cause damage is particularly tricky. Revenge clicks are covert.
How would you prove they clicked it because deep down they hate their boss and want to see them suffer? How would you know someone’s pent-up resentment led them to click that lethal phishing link?
We can look at the broader impact of insider threats. They’re very well-established.
For example, the infamous phishing attack on Facebook and Google between 2013 and 2015 resulted in over $100 million in losses. Attackers exploited human vulnerabilities by sending fake invoices that appeared legitimate, leading to substantial financial damage. Although this case did not involve revenge clicks per se, it underscores how human actions can have significant cybersecurity and financial consequences.
The Cultural Connection
A toxic workplace culture—characterised by poor leadership, lack of recognition, and employee dissatisfaction—erodes trust and loyalty. In such environments, employees become disengaged, increasing the likelihood of risky behaviours, including revenge clicks.
When individuals feel undervalued or resentful, they may rationalise actions that compromise your organisational security and come at a very hefty cost.
What Proactive Measures Can You Take?
To reduce the risk of revenge clicks and similar insider threats, you should:
Foster a Positive Culture: Encourage open communication, recognise employee contributions, and address grievances promptly to build trust and engagement.
Implement Comprehensive Training: Build a strong human firewall. Educate employees about cybersecurity threats and vigilance, emphasising their role in protecting the organisation. At Cultures That Pop, we’ve been taking training from Lockdown Cyber Security, it’s top-notch training - check it out here.
Establish and Communicate Clear Cyber Security Policies: Develop, communicate and enforce policies that outline acceptable use of technology and the consequences of malicious actions. Make cybersecurity a regular part of your internal communication strategy and help make security part of your everyday actions and cultural norms.
Monitor and Support: Utilise monitoring tools to detect unusual activities and provide support systems for employees experiencing workplace dissatisfaction. Regular surveys are a great way to check employee sentiment. Check out The People Experience Hub and see how their surveys help build positive workplace cultures.
In Cyber Warfare, Culture Wins
Cybersecurity is not solely a technical issue; it's intrinsically linked to culture. By cultivating a positive work environment where employees feel valued, heard, invested in the collective success and where you’re actively addressing employee concerns, you reduce the risk of insider threats like revenge clicks.
Ultimately, culture wins.
If you’re keen to learn more about culture at work, email us at cat@culturesthatpop.co.uk, and let’s chat.
