How Paubox inbound email security stops AI-powered cyberattacks in healthcare

Artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare, but its technology is being used by both good and bad actors. While AI helps clinicians diagnose faster and automate workflows, it also empowers cybercriminals to launch smarter, more personalized attacks. As the article titled The New Face of Fraud: 40% of Business Email Compromise (BEC) Emails Are AI-Generated states, “BEC remains a major scourge. Nearly half (49%) of all detected spam emails are attributed to BEC scams, with the CEO, followed by HR and IT, being the most common targets. It takes on a more sinister complexion when a full 40% of the BEC emails uncovered were AI-generated, and in some instances, AI likely created the entire message.” These attacks exploit trust, urgency, and human error.

According to a news report by The Hacker News, “One of the IBM study's key findings was that human error was a major contributing cause in 95% of all breaches. In other words, had human error not been a factor, the chances are that 19 out of 20 breaches analyzed in the study would not have happened at all.” With attackers now using AI tools like generative text models and deepfake generators to mimic real people and draft convincing messages, it is easier to evade traditional filters.

As the arms race between attackers and defenders intensifies, it’s possible that AI can be used to stop AI-powered threats. 

Read also: The AI arms race in healthcare cybersecurity

Understanding AI-powered email threats

AI has given cybercriminals an unprecedented advantage. Instead of relying on mass phishing blasts filled with spelling errors, attackers can now craft highly customized, grammatically flawless, and contextually accurate messages that appear to come from trusted sources.

Smarter phishing and spoofing

According to the study, Phishing Attacks in the Age of Generative Artificial Intelligence: A Systematic Review of Human Factors, “Attackers increasingly use GenAI tools to produce content that advances the credibility of phishing attacks. This is achieved by producing content such as text, voice, and video, replicating trusted entities’ behaviour and communication style with the aim of deceiving targeted victims. The threat of digital deception through the deployment of GenAI technologies in phishing attacks is increasing significantly.”

Generative AI enables attackers to analyze public data and compose tailored emails that reflect real communication patterns. This results in a fake message from a “CFO” asking for urgent payment approval that looks indistinguishable from the real thing.

Deepfake attachments and voice phishing

AI’s ability to produce “content such as text, voice, and video” demonstrates that AI can also generate realistic voice messages (“vishing”) or deepfake videos that instruct staff to take immediate action. These attacks are particularly dangerous in healthcare settings, where time-sensitive communication is routine.

BEC and invoice fraud

The above study, Phishing Attacks in the Age of Generative Artificial Intelligence: A Systematic Review of Human Factors, notes that “advances in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technology have led to the possibility of mimicking human activities, behaviours, and communication styles.” This means that AI models can replicate tone and writing style, making it easier to impersonate vendors, clinicians, or executives. Combined with social engineering, this leads to sophisticated business email compromise schemes that have cost organizations billions globally.

Why healthcare is especially at risk

Healthcare organizations are uniquely exposed to email-based threats. Hospitals, clinics, insurers, and telehealth providers rely on constant email communication among clinicians, administrators, vendors, and patients. Beyond disrupting operations, these attacks target the enormous value stored within electronic health records (EHRs). Sensitive data such as Social Security numbers, medical histories, and insurance details can be exploited for identity theft, insurance fraud, and blackmail. “Healthcare data is also the costliest record for cybercriminals to obtain in dark web shops. Unlike a stolen credit card number that can go for a few dollars, healthcare records, and what’s inside them, go for about USD 250 each, and fake birth certificates based on compromised PHI go for at least USD 500 on the dark web,” says IBM. 

Compounding the issue, many organizations use platforms like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace without proper inbound email filtering, leaving them open to AI-powered phishing, spoofing, and ransomware delivery.

A 2025 Paubox report found that 180 healthcare organizations suffered email-related breaches in 2024 alone, often due to misconfigurations or a lack of advanced inbound protection. Beyond financial loss, breaches erode patient trust and trigger severe HIPAA penalties.

Why traditional security tools fall short

Legacy spam filters and antivirus tools rely heavily on signature-based detection, matching known malware or suspicious domains. AI-generated attacks bypass these measures easily by creating new, unique messages each time.

Moreover, these systems rarely analyze behavioral context, such as who typically sends messages, when, and in what tone. As a result, even a single cleverly written email can slip through undetected and reach a busy nurse, admin, or finance officer.

Humans, too, are unreliable gatekeepers. Training helps, but even seasoned professionals can’t spot every AI-crafted deception. According to CISA, “8 out of 10 organizations had at least one

individual who fell victim to a phishing attempt by CISA Assessment teams.” This indicates that no matter how well-trained staff may be, human vigilance alone can’t match the speed, scale, and sophistication of AI-driven attacks. To stay protected, organizations need defenses that think just as fast as the threats themselves. The solution? An intelligent, proactive email defense system that learns, adapts, and responds in real time.

Related: The move from traditional defences to defensive AI

Fighting back using Paubox’s AI-powered Inbound Email Security

Paubox Inbound Email Security is purpose-built to stop the next generation of email threats before they ever reach your inbox. Leveraging artificial intelligence, behavioral analysis, and a cloud-native architecture, Paubox detects suspicious messages based on how they behave, not just what they contain.

• AI-driven threat detection: Paubox’s system uses machine learning algorithms to identify anomalies in sender behavior, message composition, and metadata. Instead of waiting for a known threat signature, it flags emails that deviate from established communication patterns. For instance, if a message appears to come from a hospital executive but originates from an unfamiliar IP address, or the tone, timing, or formatting differs from typical emails, Paubox’s AI immediately quarantines it for review.
• Behavioral and intent analysis: Each message undergoes multiple layers of scrutiny, from linguistic cues to payload inspection. The platform evaluates intent: Is the sender requesting sensitive information or urging an unusual financial transaction? These contextual signals help Paubox catch socially engineered AI attacks that traditional filters miss.
• Continuous learning: As attackers evolve their tactics, so does Paubox. The AI model continuously learns from new threat data across its network of healthcare clients, improving detection accuracy over time.

Paubox’s defense strategy mirrors the offensive capabilities of malicious AI, neutralizing it with equally intelligent protection.

Read more: Paubox launches generative AI email security for healthcare

Real-world example: stopping an AI-generated phishing scam

Consider a hospital’s finance department that receives an email from a “medical equipment supplier” with a slightly modified domain (e.g., medtech-suppIy.com instead of medtech-supply.com). The message, generated by AI, references real purchase history and includes a fake invoice attachment.

Traditional filters might not flag it—it looks legitimate, uses proper grammar, and includes correct terminology. But Paubox’s AI detects several red flags:

• The sender domain history doesn’t match previous vendor interactions.
• The message metadata shows it originated from an unverified source.
• The invoice file format mimics a common malware delivery vector.

Within milliseconds, Paubox quarantines the email, preventing financial loss and data exposure.

Learn more: Inbound Security: Overview

Integrating Paubox into your defense strategy

Paubox Inbound Email Security fits seamlessly into existing healthcare IT ecosystems. It integrates directly with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and on-premise email systems, without requiring portals, plug-ins, or user training.

Key integration benefits include:

• Zero-step encryption: All inbound and outbound emails remain encrypted by default, ensuring HIPAA compliance.
• Centralized threat dashboard: Security teams can view quarantined emails, monitor threat trends, and generate compliance-ready reports.
• Compatibility: Works alongside multi-factor authentication (MFA), data loss prevention (DLP), and endpoint protection systems for a holistic defense.
• Low maintenance: No user onboarding or manual key exchange required. IT teams can deploy organization-wide protection in hours, not days.

By incorporating Paubox into your inbound email workflow, your organization gains real-time visibility and proactive protection against AI-driven cyber threats.

See also: HIPAA Compliant Email: The Definitive Guide (2025 Update)

FAQS

How does Paubox ensure HIPAA compliance while scanning emails?

Paubox encrypts all messages in transit and at rest using industry-standard protocols, meeting HIPAA’s Security and Privacy Rule requirements. Its platform operates within compliant cloud environments to maintain data integrity.

Does Paubox require staff training?

No. Its zero-step encryption and automatic threat detection work silently in the background, minimizing user intervention.

What kind of reports does Paubox provide?

The Paubox dashboard includes detailed analytics, threat logs, and compliance-ready audit reports for IT and compliance teams.

Will Paubox block legitimate emails?

Paubox’s adaptive AI minimizes false positives by continuously learning from real-world communication patterns, ensuring important messages aren’t mistakenly flagged as threats.