The Hidden Risk in Phishing Simulations: False-Clicks and How to Solve Them

Phishing simulations have become an essential component of modern cybersecurity strategies. Organizations leverage these tests to measure their employees' ability to recognize and respond to malicious emails. Metrics like open rates, click rates, and data submission rates provide crucial insights into organizational vulnerability and guide remedial actions such as training, nudging, and other interventions. However, there is a hidden problem undermining the effectiveness of these simulations: false-clicks caused by automated systems.

This blog post explores how false-clicks from automated systems can distort phishing simulation results, why they happen, and how organizations can filter them out to get accurate insights into employee vulnerability.

The False-Click Problem: A Security Awareness Manager’s Nightmare

In an ideal world, every interaction recorded during a phishing simulation would represent genuine human behavior. But in reality, automated systems such as email gateways, URL filtering tools, spam analysis solutions, and endpoint security software can trigger false interactions. These systems are designed to protect users by analyzing email content and URLs for malicious intent, but in doing so, they inadvertently “open” emails or “click” links.

When such bot activities are mistaken for human actions, they distort the phishing simulation data, leading to:

1. Inaccurate Metrics – False opens and clicks increase the numbers, making it seem like more employees are falling for phishing attacks than they actually are.
2. Ineffective Training Allocation – Misleading data causes security teams to target the wrong individuals for additional training, wasting valuable time and resources.
3. Loss of Trust in Awareness Programs – Employees may notice mistakes in phishing reports or gamification dashboards, causing them to doubt the reliability of the security awareness training program.
4. Reputational Risk for Security Leaders – CISOs and security managers risk losing credibility if they present inaccurate phishing simulation data to executives or stakeholders.

Why False-Clicks Are a Business Risk

False-click data isn't just an operational headache—it’s a serious business risk. When organizations cannot trust their phishing simulation results, they may misjudge their human risk factor, leading to major security and financial consequences.

Here’s how false-click data can negatively impact an organization:

• Weaker Security Defenses – If phishing risk is underestimated, businesses may not take the necessary steps to protect against real phishing attacks, leaving them vulnerable.
• Wasted Training Budget – Overestimating phishing risk can lead to unnecessary spending on training programs that don’t address the real problem areas.
• Security Strategy Failure – Inaccurate data can cause security teams to focus on the wrong threats, preventing meaningful improvements to the organization’s cybersecurity posture.

For security awareness managers and CISOs, false-clicks are more than just a data accuracy issue—they pose a threat to the entire cybersecurity framework.

Keepnet’s Game-Changing Solution to False-Clicks

Keepnet understands how false-click data can mislead security teams and weaken phishing simulation results. To solve this, Keepnet has developed cutting-edge technology to eliminate false-clicks, ensuring that phishing simulation metrics reflect only real human interactions. Here’s how Keepnet solves the problem:

1. Detecting Bot Activities in Email Phishing Simulations

Keepnet’s advanced detection mechanisms identify automated interactions triggered by security tools, such as email gateways and spam filters. By using honeypots that are only detectable by security solutions, Keepnet captures their user-agent, IP addresses, and other digital footprints. This information is used to block bot activities or display them on reports as bot-related actions, depending on the organization’s preferences. This precision allows security teams to:

• Accurately measure employee vulnerability.
• Tailor training programs based on real needs.
• Build confidence in the integrity of their metrics and reports.

2. Blocking Bots on Phishing URLs

Keepnet has developed a unique technology that prevents bots from interacting with phishing URLs. On the landing page, hidden code challenges the browser to determine whether it is a real human browser or a sandbox environment used by automated tools. This ensures that bots are stopped before they can interact with the page, effectively eliminating the risk of false data submissions. By focusing exclusively on real human activity, organizations can:

• Maintain the integrity of their simulation results.
• Avoid misleading data that could disrupt their cybersecurity strategy.
• Provide employees with accurate feedback through gamification dashboards.

Read our guide to learn more about how to manage false clicks in phishing simulations.

Customer Success Story: Tiryaki Agro Foods

Tiryaki Agro Foods successfully tackled phishing attacks by adopting Keepnet's Phishing Simulator, which trained employees to identify and respond to threats more effectively.

Because they used Keepnet’s advanced technology, they also prevented false-click issues. This ensured their phishing simulation results were accurate, allowing the security team to focus on real risks instead of being misled by automated bot activity.

Key Outcomes Achieved:

• 93% increase in employee reporting rates.
• 82% decrease in clicks on malicious links.
• A stronger security culture to fight phishing threats.

With Keepnet’s solution, Tiryaki Agro Foods improved its training efforts and strengthened its organization’s security posture. To get more details, read the full success story of Tiryaki Agro Foods.

Industry Benchmarks and Comparisons

Automated tools like email gateways and spam filters can distort phishing simulation results by generating false clicks. Keepnet eliminates this issue with a comprehensive bot detection system.

Unlike other players on the market that rely on basic user-agent analysis, Keepnet uses a dual-layer approach:

• Email Honeypots to capture bot activity.
• Landing Page Challenges to differentiate real users from automated tools.

This ensures phishing simulation metrics are accurate, helping organizations focus on real risks and strengthen their cybersecurity strategies.

From the CISO’s Perspective

For CISOs, accurate phishing simulation data is essential for making the right security decisions. When false clicks inflate reports, it creates a misleading picture of employee risk, leading to wasted training efforts and weaker security strategies.

Incorrect data also makes it harder to comply with security standards like ISO 27001 and GDPR, where accurate reporting is required. Keepnet prevents false clicks, ensuring phishing simulation results reflect real employee behavior. This helps CISOs:

• Improve security based on real risks.
• Focus training on the right employees.
• Provide reliable reports for executives and auditors.

With Keepnet’s advanced detection system, CISOs can trust their phishing metrics and make informed decisions with confidence.

Future Implications

Failing to address false-clicks can leave organizations vulnerable to more sophisticated phishing attacks. As cybercriminals refine their tactics, it will become even more important to accurately separate real human actions from automated security tool activity.

Keepnet’s innovative approach helps organizations stay ahead of these challenges by providing accurate data to improve defenses and reduce emerging risks.

Gamification and Employee Trust

When phishing simulation data is accurate, employees see fair and reliable results in gamification dashboards, reinforcing their trust in the security awareness program. If false clicks distort reports, employees may question the system’s accuracy, leading to disengagement.

With clear, trustworthy feedback, employees are more likely to take training seriously, stay engaged, and develop stronger phishing detection skills, ultimately driving real behavior change across the organization.

To learn more about how gamification improves security awareness training, check out The Power of Gamification in Security Awareness Training.

Eliminate False Clicks, Strengthen Your Security

False-clicks in phishing simulations aren’t just a minor issue—they can mislead security teams, waste resources, and weaken an organization's defenses. Inaccurate data creates false risk assessments, making it harder to train the right employees and build an effective cybersecurity strategy.

With Keepnet’s advanced bot detection technology, you can eliminate false clicks and ensure 100% accurate phishing simulation results. This allows your organization to focus on real security risks, improve training effectiveness, and build a stronger security culture.

Check out the Keepnet Phishing Simulator to run precise simulations and strengthen your organization’s phishing defenses.