January 26, 2026
Right now, cybercriminals are drafting their own New Year's resolutions — but not the kind centered around wellness or balance.
Instead, they're analyzing their 2025 schemes and strategizing how to exploit more vulnerabilities in 2026.
Unfortunately, small businesses top their preferred target list.
It's not about your carelessness,
but about how busy you are.
And cybercriminals prey on that busyness.
Here's their 2026 playbook—and crucial tactics you can use to dismantle it.
Resolution #1: "Craft Phishing Emails That Appear Legitimate"
The days of blatantly obvious scam emails are behind us.
Today's AI-powered phishing messages are crafted to:
- Mimic natural language flawlessly
- Reflect your company's unique communication style
- Reference actual vendors you collaborate with
- Avoid unmistakeable red flags
Instead of relying on typos, attackers capitalize on impeccable timing.
January is prime time—when distractions are plentiful and workflows rush to resume post-holiday.
Picture this phishing message:
"Hi [your actual name], I attempted to resend the updated invoice but it bounced back. Could you confirm if this email address is still correct for accounting? Attached is the new invoice. Let me know if you have questions. Thanks, [name of your actual vendor]"
No extravagant tales or urgent wire transfer demands—just a believable request from a known contact.
Your defense strategy:
- Educate your team to verify all financial or credential requests through separate communication channels.
- Employ advanced email filters that detect and flag impersonation efforts—like emails claiming to be from your accountant but originating from suspicious servers.
- Build a workplace culture that encourages questioning and verification without stigma—celebrate employees who double-check.
Resolution #2: "Impersonate Vendors or Executives Perfectly"
This tactic is especially concerning due to its realism.
You might receive an email claiming:
"We've updated our bank details. Please use this new account for all upcoming payments."
Or a text from "the CEO" saying:
"Urgent. Wire funds now. I'm in a meeting and can't discuss."
Nowadays, deepfake voice scams are increasingly common, using cloned audio from public videos or voicemails to impersonate your leadership.
This isn't science fiction—it's a present-day threat.
Your defense strategy:
- Implement strict callback policies for changes in payment details using only trusted contact numbers.
- Require voice confirmation over recognized lines before any fund transfers.
- Mandate multi-factor authentication on all finance and administrative accounts to block unauthorized access.
Resolution #3: "Target Small Businesses More Aggressively"
Big corporations were once primary targets—banks, hospitals, Fortune 500 companies.
But tighter security and insurance made those high-profile firms tougher and less appealing.
Clever criminals shifted focus,
choosing volume over risk: many smaller attacks worth less money, but with near-certain success.
Small businesses like yours have valuable assets yet often lack dedicated security teams.
Attackers bank on assumptions that you are:
- Understaffed
- Unprotected by specialized security personnel
- Overwhelmed with responsibilities
- Believing "we're too small to be a target"
That misconception is their most exploited weakness.
Your defense strategy:
- Implement fundamental safeguards—multi-factor authentication, timely software updates, and reliable backups—to strengthen your defenses beyond neighboring businesses.
- Abandon the myth that size equals immunity; small businesses are lucrative targets that often remain underreported.
- Seek expert cybersecurity partners who provide robust protection tailored to your needs without requiring a full internal team.
Resolution #4: "Exploit New Employee Onboarding and Tax Season Chaos"
The influx of new hires in January presents vulnerabilities.
New employees eager to please may overlook potential red flags and hesitate to question authority.
From a hacker's perspective, these are prime opportunities.
For example, an email impersonating a CEO requests urgent handling:
"I'm traveling and need you to take care of this immediately."
A seasoned employee might hesitate, but eager new hires could comply instantly.
Tax-related scams also escalate during this period—fake W-2 requests, payroll phishing, bogus IRS alerts.
These scams aim to acquire sensitive employee information, leading to fraudulent tax filings and financial chaos.
Your defense strategy:
- Integrate cybersecurity training into onboarding before granting email access.
- Define clear policies—no W-2s sent via email, all payment requests verified by phone—and routinely test adherence.
- Encourage and reward employees who verify suspicious requests, fostering a vigilant environment.
Prevention Outweighs Recovery Every Time.
When it comes to cybersecurity, you have two paths:
Option A: Respond post-attack—pay ransoms, hire emergency experts, notify clients, restore operations, rebuild your reputation. This can cost tens or hundreds of thousands and take weeks to months.
Option B: Proactively secure your systems—implement protections, train your team, monitor continuously, and fix weaknesses in real time. This approach is cost-effective, ongoing, and prevents incidents.
Think of cybersecurity like a fire extinguisher: you don't buy it after a blaze does damage; you have it ready to stop a fire before it spreads.
How to Become an Unbeatable Target
A reliable IT partner shields your business by:
- Maintaining 24/7 system monitoring to intercept threats before breaches occur
- Securing access controls so a single compromised password can't trigger widespread damage
- Educating your team on recognizing sophisticated scams
- Enforcing strict verification protocols that go beyond accepting emails at face value for wire transfers
- Regularly updating and testing backups, ensuring ransomware attacks become mere nuisances
- Applying patches swiftly to eliminate exploitable vulnerabilities
Focus on fire prevention rather than firefighting.
While criminals map out their 2026 ambitions, banking on your distractions and understaffing, let's turn the tables.
Make Your Business Unreachable for Cybercriminals
Schedule a New Year Security Reality Check.
We'll identify your vulnerabilities, prioritize threats, and help you eliminate the risks so you won't be an easy mark in 2026.
No fear-mongering. No technical jargon. Just a straightforward assessment and actionable advice.
Click here or give us a call at 630-895-8208 to schedule your Consult.
Because the smartest New Year's resolution is to ensure you're never on a cybercriminal's target list.
