January 26, 2026
At this very moment, cybercriminals are making their own New Year's resolutions.
But they're not focused on wellness or work-life harmony.
Instead, they're analyzing their successful tactics from 2025 and plotting ways to exploit even more victims in 2026.
Small businesses have become their prime targets.
Not because of carelessness,
but because your busy schedule creates opportunities.
And cybercriminals thrive on busy.
Here's the cybercriminal's 2026 playbook—and how you can disrupt it.
Resolution #1: Craft Phishing Emails That Blend In Seamlessly
Gone are the days of blatantly fake scam emails.
Thanks to AI, phishing messages now:
- Sound entirely legitimate
- Reflect your company's tone
- Mention actual vendors you work with
- Omit obvious giveaways
Timing, not typos, is their weapon.
January is ideal—when distractions and holiday catch-ups reign.
A modern phishing email might say:
"Hi [your actual name], I attempted to resend the updated invoice, but it bounced back. Could you confirm if this is still the right email for accounting? Here's the revised copy—let me know if you have questions. Thanks, [name of your actual vendor]"
No flashy schemes or urgent wire transfers—just a familiar, plausible request.
Your defense:
- Train your staff to verify financial or credential requests through separate communication channels.
- Employ advanced email filters that detect impersonation, such as alerts for emails coming from unexpected regions.
- Foster a culture where verification is valued and encouraged—not seen as distrust.
Resolution #2: Impersonate Vendors or Company Leaders with Unmatched Precision
This tactic is especially dangerous because it feels authentic.
You might receive:
"We've updated our bank info. Please use this new account for payments going forward."
Or a text from what seems like your CEO:
"Urgent: Wire funds now—I'm in a meeting!"
Increasingly, scammers use deepfake voice technology—cloning voices from public media and voicemails—to call your finance team with a convincing favor request.
This is not science fiction, but today's reality.
Your defense:
- Implement a mandatory callback policy for any changes in bank details, using known phone numbers—not those emailed.
- Never authorize payments without verbal confirmation through established channels.
- Protect finance and admin logins with multi-factor authentication to block unauthorized access even if passwords are compromised.
Resolution #3: Intensify Attacks on Small Businesses
Large organizations were once prime targets: banks, hospitals, Fortune 500s.
But as their security tightened, cybercriminals shifted focus.
Instead of one huge, risky $5 million heist, they pursue multiple smaller, reliable $50,000 attacks.
Small businesses now hold valuable assets and data but often lack dedicated cybersecurity teams.
Attackers exploit assumptions that make you vulnerable:
- Limited staffing
- Absence of specialized security personnel
- Overloaded roles and responsibilities
- Belief "we're too small to be targeted"
Your defense:
- Implement essential security practices—MFA, regular software updates, reliable backups—to outmatch competitors and deter attackers.
- Erase the myth that small equals safe; while you may fly under the media radar, you remain a lucrative target.
- Partner with cybersecurity experts who provide vigilant protection without the burden of building an internal team.
Resolution #4: Exploit New Employee Onboarding and Tax Season Chaos
January welcomes new staff who are eager but unfamiliar with your security protocols.
They want to please and may hesitate to question unusual requests.
Attackers capitalize on this:
"Hi, this is the CEO. Can you urgently process this? I'm traveling and can't discuss."
Veteran employees might hesitate; new hires often act immediately.
Tax season scams surge with requests for W-2 forms, payroll phishing, and fake IRS alerts.
Criminals impersonate executives to request employee tax info—compromising Social Security numbers, addresses, and salaries.
This leads to fraudulent tax filings that your employees discover only when their legitimate returns are rejected.
Your defense:
- Integrate scam awareness into onboarding before email access is granted.
- Establish clear policies: "W-2s never sent via email" and "All payment requests require phone verification." Document and regularly test these.
- Encourage and reward employees who verify suspicious requests.
Prevention Always Outsmarts Recovery.
You have two paths with cybersecurity:
Option A: Respond post-attack—pay ransoms, hire emergency help, notify stakeholders, restore systems, rebuild reputation. Costly in time and money.
Option B: Proactively protect your business. Implement strong security, train your staff, monitor threats, and seal vulnerabilities. Less costly and far less disruptive.
Security is like buying a fire extinguisher before a fire—not after.
How to Foil Their Plans
A trusted IT partner will help you avoid becoming an "easy target" by:
- Providing 24/7 system monitoring to stop threats early
- Strengthening access controls so one compromised password doesn't lead to full breach
- Educating your team on sophisticated scams—not just obvious ones
- Enforcing strict verification policies especially for wire transfers
- Maintaining and routinely testing backups so ransomware causes minimal disruption
- Applying timely software patches to close security gaps before exploits
This is fire prevention, not firefighting.
Cybercriminals are optimistic for 2026, counting on businesses like yours to stay vulnerable and unprepared.
Let's prove them wrong.
Remove Your Business from Their Target List
Schedule a New Year Security Reality Check.
We'll identify your vulnerabilities, prioritize what needs attention, and guide you on how to stop being an easy target in 2026.
No fear-mongering. No technical jargon. Just a clear, actionable security assessment.
Click here or give us a call at 336-904-2445 to book your 15-Minute Discovery Call.
Because the smartest New Year's resolution is to ensure you're not on any cybercriminal's to-do list.
