January 26, 2026
Right now, somewhere out there, a cybercriminal is plotting their New Year's resolutions.
Unlike you, they're not focused on wellness or work-life balance.
They're strategizing how to outsmart defenses and steal more in 2026.
And guess what? Small businesses remain their prime targets.
Not because you're careless—
but because you're busy.
And busy businesses are exactly what cybercriminals prey on.
Here's their 2026 blueprint—and how you can stop it.
Resolution #1: "I'll Craft Phishing Emails That Blend Seamlessly"
The days of obvious scam emails are over.
Now, AI-generated emails are designed to:
- Sound completely authentic
- Mirror your company's language
- Reference actual vendors you work with
- Avoid typical red flags
These messages don't rely on typos to trick you—they capitalize on perfect timing.
January is ideal: everyone's focused on catching up after the holidays, making it easier to slip through.
Example of a modern phishing email:
"Hi [your actual name], I attempted to send the updated invoice, but it bounced back. Can you please confirm this is still the correct email for accounting? Here's the revised version—let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, [name of your actual vendor]"
No Nigerian princes, no urgent wire transfers—just a familiar voice with a routine request.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Train your team to double-check any money or credential requests using a separate communication channel.
- Utilize advanced email filters that detect impersonation attempts—like emails claiming to be from your accountant but originating overseas.
- Promote a culture where verifying requests is encouraged and appreciated, not dismissed.
Resolution #2: "I'll Impersonate Your Vendors and Executives"
This tactic feels alarmingly real.
Imagine an email from a vendor stating:
"We've updated our bank details. Please use this new account for all future payments."
Or a text from "the CEO" telling your bookkeeper:
"Urgent wiring needed. I'm in a meeting and can't talk now."
And voice scams are evolving too—deepfake technology clones voices from videos or voicemails, making these calls indistinguishable from the real thing.
This isn't science fiction—it's today's threat.
Your Defense Strategy:
- Adopt a strict callback rule for any bank detail changes—verify through known numbers, not those in suspicious emails.
- Never authorize payments without voice confirmation via established contacts.
- Enforce multi-factor authentication on all finance and admin accounts to block unauthorized access.
Resolution #3: "I'll Double Down on Small Businesses"
While large corporations fortified their security, cybercriminals shifted focus.
Instead of a single high-risk, high-reward breach, they aim for many smaller, more certain attacks.
Small businesses hold valuable data and funds but often lack dedicated security teams—making them ideal targets.
Attackers count on you being:
- Understaffed
- Without specialized security
- Overwhelmed by daily tasks
- Assuming you're too small to be targeted
That assumption is precisely their advantage.
How to Fight Back:
- Implement basic security like MFA, regular updates, and reliable backups to become a tougher target than your competitors.
- Reject the myth "we're too small to be targeted"—you may fly under the radar, but that doesn't mean you're safe.
- Partner with cybersecurity experts who can monitor and protect your business effectively, without needing a whole in-house team.
Resolution #4: "I Will Exploit New Employees and Tax Season Chaos"
New hires in January are prime targets—they want to please and often aren't yet familiar with your protocols.
Attackers take advantage with messages like:
"Hi, this is the CEO. Please handle this urgently; I'm traveling and can't take calls."
The flood of tax-season scams also rises—requests for W-2 forms, payroll phishing, fake IRS notices—all aiming to steal employees' sensitive data.
If scammers obtain employee W-2s, they can file fraudulent tax returns before your staff does, causing rejected returns and identity theft headaches.
Protective Measures:
- Incorporate security training during onboarding so new employees recognize scams before accessing email.
- Establish clear policies: "W-2s are never sent via email" and "All payment requests require phone verification."
- Celebrate employees who verify suspicious requests—encourage vigilance.
Prevention is Better Than Cure.
When it comes to cybersecurity, you face two paths:
Option A: React after a breach—pay ransoms, hire emergency responders, notify customers, rebuild systems. This costs tens of thousands or more and takes weeks or months.
Option B: Take proactive steps—secure systems, train your team, monitor threats, and close gaps before hackers can exploit them. This is cost-effective and seamless.
You don't buy a fire extinguisher after your building burns down—you do it to make sure it never happens.
How to Make 2026 Cyberthreat-Free
A trusted IT partner will protect you by:
- Monitoring your systems around the clock to stop threats before breaches happen
- Securing access to ensure a single stolen password isn't catastrophic
- Training your team on recognizing sophisticated scams, not just the obvious ones
- Enforcing wire transfer verification policies that demand more than a convincing email
- Maintaining and testing backups so ransomware is a minor disruption, not a disaster
- Applying patches promptly to close security holes the moment they appear
Focus on fire prevention, not fire fighting.
Cybercriminals are already planning their 2026 campaigns, hoping to exploit unprepared and overwhelmed businesses.
Let's prove them wrong.
Remove Your Business from Their Hit List
Schedule a comprehensive New Year Security Reality Check today.
We'll expose your risks, prioritize what matters, and guide you to stop being an easy target in 2026.
No scare tactics, no confusing jargon—just straightforward insight and actionable steps.
Click here or give us a call at 929-523-2921 to book your Call With Our CEO.
Because the smartest New Year's resolution is to make sure your business is never anyone else's target.
