January 26, 2026
Right now, somewhere in the digital shadows, a cybercriminal is setting their New Year's goals.
Not about wellness or balance,
but about refining strategies to exploit and steal more in 2026.
Small businesses? Their top choice.
Not due to carelessness,
but because you're busy running your business,
and attackers thrive on that busy pace.
Discover their 2026 tactics—and more importantly, how you can stop them.
Cybercriminal Resolution #1: Craft Phishing Emails That Pass Undetected
The days of obvious scam emails are behind us.
Today, AI generates emails that:
- Sound perfectly natural
- Match your company's tone and language
- Include real vendors you collaborate with
- Omit common warning signs
It's not typos they rely on, but precise timing.
January is prime time—everyone is distracted recovering from holidays and rushing through tasks.
This is an example of such a phishing email:
"Hi [your actual name], I tried sending the updated invoice but it bounced back. Can you confirm if this is still the right accounting email? Here's the new version—let me know if you have questions. Thanks, [name of your actual vendor]"
No fairy tale princes, no urgent wire transfer requests—just a believable message from a known contact.
How to Defend:
- Educate your team to verify any requests involving money or credentials through separate communication channels.
- Deploy sophisticated email filters that detect impersonations, especially from suspicious servers.
- Encourage a culture where double-checking requests is applauded, not discouraged.
Cybercriminal Resolution #2: Impersonate Vendors or Company Leaders
This form of fraud is alarmingly convincing.
Imagine an email from a vendor saying:
"We've updated our bank details; please use the new account for future payments."
Or a text appearing to be from "the CEO" to your bookkeeper:
"Urgent: Wire transfer needed now; I'm in a meeting and can't talk."
Increasingly, scammers employ deepfake technology to mimic voices, making impostor calls that sound authentic.
This isn't science fiction; it's happening today.
Your Defense:
- Implement mandatory callback policies using verified numbers—not those given in suspicious messages.
- Require voice confirmation via established channels before authorizing payments.
- Enforce multi-factor authentication on all financial and administrative accounts.
Cybercriminal Resolution #3: Intensify Focus on Small Businesses
While big corporations have upped their defenses,
hackers now prefer targeting small businesses where security is often limited.
Instead of a risky $5 million heist,
they attempt many smaller, nearly guaranteed $50,000 attacks.
They know your challenges:
- Limited staffing
- No dedicated security team
- Constant multitasking
- Assumption that "we're too small to be targeted"
This misconception is their greatest advantage.
How to Protect Your Business:
- Implement fundamental security practices like MFA, timely updates, and robust backups to deter most attackers.
- Eliminate the phrase "too small to be a target" from your mindset.
- Partner with cybersecurity experts to bolster your defenses instead of trying to manage alone.
Cybercriminal Resolution #4: Exploit New Hires and Tax Season Confusion
January brings fresh employees unfamiliar with company protocols—prime targets due to eagerness and lack of experience.
Scammers pose as CEOs or HR, sending urgent requests like:
"Send all employee W-2s for an upcoming accounting meeting ASAP."
When scammers obtain W-2s, they steal sensitive employee data to file fraudulent tax returns, causing real employees' returns to be flagged or rejected.
Preventative Steps:
- Include security awareness training as part of onboarding before granting email access.
- Publish clear policies such as "W-2s are never sent by email" and require phone verification for payment requests.
- Reward employees who verify requests—encourage vigilance rather than inducing fear.
Prevention Outweighs Recovery Every Time
When it comes to cybersecurity, you have two paths:
Option A: Respond post-attack.
Pay ransoms, engage emergency responders, notify clients, repair infrastructure, and suffer reputation damage.
Costs are steep in money and time.
Option B: Proactively defend.
Implement security best practices, train your staff, and monitor continuously.
Costs are lower, and you maintain business as usual.
Think of cybersecurity like a fire extinguisher—you invest so you never have to use it.
How to Keep Cybercriminals at Bay
Choose a trusted IT partner who will:
- Monitor your systems around the clock to prevent breaches
- Secure access points so a single compromised credential doesn't endanger everything
- Train your team to recognize sophisticated scams
- Set strict verification protocols, especially for wire transfers
- Maintain and test backups to make ransomware merely an inconvenience
- Apply patches promptly to close security gaps before criminals exploit them
Be proactive—fight fires before they start.
While criminals are gearing up for 2026, counting on businesses like yours to be weak and vulnerable,
you can disappoint them.
Take Your Business Off the Cybercriminals' Radar
Schedule a comprehensive New Year Security Assessment.
We'll identify your vulnerabilities, prioritize critical risks, and guide you in becoming an unappealing target in 2026.
No fear mongering. No confusing jargon. Just clear, actionable insights.
Click here or give us a call at 877-310-0123 to book your 15-Minute Discovery Call.
Remember, the smartest New Year's resolution is ensuring your business isn't on a criminal's to-do list.
