January 26, 2026
Right now, cybercriminals are setting their sights on 2026, crafting malicious plans just like businesses make New Year's resolutions.
Unlike your typical resolutions about wellness or productivity, their goals focus on one thing: exploiting vulnerabilities to steal more in the coming year.
Small businesses are their prime targets.
Not due to negligence, but because busy schedules create perfect opportunities.
Criminals thrive when you're distracted.
Discover their top tactics for 2026 — and how you can foil them.
Resolution #1: Crafting Phishing Emails That Fool Even the Savviest
The days of blatantly obvious scam emails are gone.
Thanks to AI, phishing messages now:
- Sound authentic and natural
- Adopt your company's unique tone of voice
- Include real vendor references familiar to you
- Avoid typical red flags that used to raise suspicion
Such emails don't rely on typos or glaring errors; they depend on perfect timing.
January's hectic pace post-holidays makes it an ideal moment for these attacks.
For example, a deceptive phishing email might say:
"Hi [your actual name], I couldn't send the updated invoice; the file bounced back. Could you confirm this is still the correct email for accounting? Here's the revised version — let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, [your real vendor]"
No outrageous claims. No urgent wire transfers. Just a believable request from a known contact.
How to Protect Your Business:
- Educate your team to verify all financial or credential-related requests through a different communication channel.
- Implement advanced email filters that detect impersonation attempts, such as emails appearing from trusted contacts but originating from suspicious servers.
- Promote a company culture where validating requests is encouraged and recognized as smart, not paranoid.
Resolution #2: Impersonating Vendors and Executives to Trick Employees
This tactic is frightening because it feels incredibly genuine.
Imagine a vendor email stating:
"We've updated our bank details. Please use this new account for all future payments."
Or a text message from "the CEO":
"Urgent: Wire this payment now. I'm in a meeting and can't talk."
Worse, deepfake voice scams are emerging, cloning voices from public videos or voicemails to create realistic calls from executives requesting favors.
This is happening right now, not in some distant future.
How to Defend Your Company:
- Institute a mandatory callback policy for all bank detail changes, verified through company-known contact numbers.
- Require voice confirmation for any payment requests through trusted channels.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all finance and administrative accounts to block unauthorized access.
Resolution #3: Increasing Focus on Targeting Small Businesses
Traditionally, hackers aimed for large targets like banks and hospitals.
With better defenses and compliance, big corporations have become tough to breach.
Cybercriminals have shifted tactics:
Rather than a single $5 million heist, they prefer multiple $50,000 attacks with higher success rates.
Small businesses hold valuable data and financial assets but often lack dedicated security teams.
Attackers count on your challenges:
- Limited staff
- No in-house security expertise
- Overwhelming multitasking
- Belief that you're too small to attract attention
That belief is your greatest risk.
How to Strengthen Your Defenses:
- Implement fundamental security measures—MFA, timely updates, and frequent backups—to outpace your competitors and deter attackers.
- Discard the mindset of being "too small to be targeted"; remember, attackers prefer victims under the radar, not high-profile breaches.
- Partner with cybersecurity professionals who can safeguard your business without the need for a full internal team.
Resolution #4: Exploiting New Employees and Tax Season Vulnerabilities
January brings fresh hires who are enthusiastic but unfamiliar with security protocols.
New employees may hesitate to question authority and strive to impress, making them ideal targets.
Scammers also ramp up attacks during tax season with tactics like fake IRS notices and requests for sensitive payroll information.
For example, impersonating the CEO or HR to demand immediate W-2 forms can lead to severe data breaches.
This compromises employee Social Security numbers and other personal data, enabling fraud before legitimate tax filings.
How to Safeguard New Employees and Tax Data:
- Include comprehensive security awareness training before granting email access.
- Establish clear policies like "W-2s are never emailed" and require phone verification for payment requests; document and test adherence.
- Encourage and reward employees who verify suspicious requests to foster a vigilant team culture.
Prevention Trumps Recovery Every Time.
When it comes to cybersecurity, you face two paths:
Option A: Respond to breaches after the fact, incurring ransom payments, costly repairs, customer notifications, and long recovery timelines.
Option B: Proactively prevent attacks with strong security measures, ongoing staff training, and vigilant threat monitoring to keep your business safe.
Investing in prevention is a fraction of the cost and hassle of recovery.
How to Stay Off Cybercriminals' Radar:
Collaborate with a trusted IT partner who provides:
- Round-the-clock system monitoring to detect threats early
- Strict access controls that limit damage if passwords are compromised
- Training focused on recognizing sophisticated scams
- Verification protocols to prevent wire fraud beyond email communication
- Reliable backups that make ransomware a minor inconvenience
- Proactive patching and system updates to close security gaps promptly
Think of it as fire prevention rather than firefighting.
Cybercriminals are optimistic about 2026, hoping to exploit unprepared and overwhelmed businesses like yours.
Let's beat their expectations.
Remove Your Business From Their Target List Today
Schedule a comprehensive New Year Security Reality Check.
We'll identify your vulnerabilities, prioritize risks, and guide you to stop being an easy mark in 2026.
No scare tactics or confusing jargon—just straightforward insights and actionable steps.
Click here or give us a call at 817-589-0808 to book your 30-Minute Discovery Call.
Because the smartest New Year's resolution is ensuring your business doesn't make anyone else's list of easy targets.
