January 23, 2026
Right now, somewhere, a cybercriminal is crafting their New Year's resolutions — but they're not focused on wellness or balance.
Instead, they are analyzing their 2025 schemes to devise smarter ways to exploit businesses in 2026.
And small businesses are their prime hunting ground.
It's not due to negligence on your part,
but because your busy schedule creates perfect opportunities for cybercriminals.
Let's expose their 2026 tactics and how you can effectively thwart them.
Resolution #1: "Crafting Phishing Emails That Seamlessly Mimic Real Communication"
The days of obvious scam emails have vanished.
With AI's rise, cybercriminals now generate messages that:
- Sound completely authentic.
- Adopt your company's communication style.
- Cite genuine vendors you work with.
- Avoid typical warning signs.
Success now hinges on precise timing, not typos.
January is ideal—everyone is distracted, rushing, catching up post-holidays.
Here's an example of a current phishing attempt:
"Hi [your actual name], I tried to send the updated invoice but it bounced. Can you confirm this is still the correct email for accounting? Here's the revised file — let me know if you have questions. Thanks, [name of your actual vendor]."
No gimmicks. No urgent fund transfers. Just a believable request from someone you trust.
Your defense strategy:
- Train your team to double-check requests involving money or sensitive data via a different communication channel.
- Employ advanced email filters to detect impersonation attempts, such as emails claiming to be from your accountant but originating from suspicious locations.
- Encourage a work culture where verifying requests is applauded, not questioned.
Resolution #2: "Impersonating Your Vendors or Executives More Convincingly"
These attacks are particularly deceptive because they feel genuine.
A vendor might email:
"We've changed our bank details. Please use this new account for all future payments."
Or your CEO might appear to text:
"Urgent wire transfer needed now. Can't take calls, I'm in a meeting."
More frighteningly, deepfake voice scams are gaining ground.
Cybercriminals clone voices from public media, making calls that sound exactly like your CEO requesting urgent favors.
This isn't science fiction; it's happening right now.
Your defense strategy:
- Implement a strict callback policy to verify any bank account changes through known phone numbers.
- Require voice confirmation via established channels before authorizing payments.
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on all financial and administrative accounts to block unauthorized access.
Resolution #3: "Targeting Small Businesses More Aggressively"
Historically, cybercriminals pursued large organizations — banks, hospitals, Fortune 500 companies.
However, enhanced enterprise security and stricter insurance requirements have made these targets tougher.
So, attackers switched gears.
Instead of a single high-stakes $5 million heist, they now prefer numerous lower-risk $50,000 attacks.
Small businesses have become prime targets — holding valuable money and data yet often lacking dedicated security teams.
Attackers exploit assumptions that you're understaffed, juggling multiple tasks, or "too small to matter."
Your defense strategy:
- Implement basic but effective security measures: MFA, timely software updates, and regularly tested backups—to make your business a harder target than others.
- Abandon the myth "we're too small to be targeted." Small businesses are vulnerable, just less visible in the news.
- Partner with cybersecurity professionals who can protect your business without the cost of an in-house security team.
Resolution #4: "Exploiting New Employees and Tax Season Confusion"
January brings new hires who are still learning your company's policies — eager to help and less likely to question requests.
For scammers, this is an ideal window.
Example scam: "Hi, this is the CEO. Can you urgently handle this while I'm traveling?"
A seasoned employee might hesitate. A new hire wanting to impress? They might comply immediately.
Tax season triggers additional scams — fake W-2 requests, payroll phishing, counterfeit IRS notices.
Scammers impersonate your CEO or HR, urgently demanding employee W-2s.
Once obtained, they steal sensitive employee information, file fraudulent tax returns, and disrupt your team's finances.
Your defense strategy:
- Incorporate comprehensive security awareness during onboarding before new employees access email.
- Enforce strict policies such as: "We never email W-2 forms" and "All payment requests require phone verification." Document and regularly test these rules.
- Recognize and reward employees who verify suspicious requests to foster a vigilant workforce.
Preventing Attacks Beats Recovering From Them Every Time.
When it comes to cybersecurity, you face two options:
Option A: Respond after a breach—paying ransoms, engaging emergency teams, notifying customers, restoring systems, and rebuilding trust. Costs can soar to hundreds of thousands, with recovery lasting weeks or months.
Option B: Proactively shield your business—deploying strong security, training staff, monitoring threats, and patching vulnerabilities consistently. This preventive approach is cost-effective and keeps your operations smooth.
Just like buying a fire extinguisher before a fire breaks out, good cybersecurity is about prevention, not reaction.
Defeat Their Plans for 2026
A reliable IT partner keeps you off the hackers' "easy target" list by:
- Providing 24/7 system monitoring to detect threats early.
- Securing access with robust authentication so stolen passwords don't mean compromised accounts.
- Educating your team on the latest sophisticated scams.
- Enforcing strict verification protocols to prevent wire fraud.
- Maintaining and routinely testing backups to cushion ransomware impacts.
- Promptly patching vulnerabilities to close gateways before criminals exploit them.
Focus on fire prevention, not firefighting.
Cybercriminals have set their sights on 2026 with high hopes, counting on businesses like yours to be unprepared and understaffed.
Let's prove them wrong.
Take Your Business Off Their Radar Today
Schedule a New Year Security Reality Check.
We'll identify your vulnerabilities, prioritize what matters, and guide you on how to stop being an easy prey in 2026.
No fear-mongering. No confusing tech jargon. Just straightforward insight and actionable advice.
Click here or give us a call at 702-745-9468 to book your 10-Minute Discovery Call.
Make protecting your business your best New Year's resolution — so you're never someone else's goal.
