January 26, 2026
Right now, cybercriminals are crafting their own New Year's resolutions—not focused on wellness or balance, but on how to exploit vulnerabilities to steal more in 2026.
And small businesses aren't just accidental targets—they're preferred victims.
This isn't due to negligence; it's simply because you have a lot on your plate—and cybercriminals prey on that busyness.
Here's a look at their 2026 tactics and how you can effectively stop them.
Resolution #1: Craft Phishing Emails That Are Harder to Detect
The days of clearly fake scam emails are behind us.
Thanks to AI, phishing messages now:
- Sound completely genuine and conversational
- Mimic your company's tone and communication style
- Reference actual vendors and partners you work with
- Eliminate obvious warning signs like spelling errors
They don't rely on mistakes to trick you—timing is their weapon.
January, when everyone is busy catching up from holidays, is prime time.
Imagine receiving this email:
"Hi [your real name], I tried sending the updated invoice, but it bounced back. Can you confirm this is still the correct accounting email? Here's the latest version—let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, [name of your actual vendor]."
No flashy scams or urgent wire transfer demands—just a believable, familiar message.
Your defense plan:
- Educate your team to verify requests involving money or credentials by confirming through a separate channel.
- Implement advanced email filters to detect impersonation attempts—like emails claiming to be your accountant but sent from suspicious servers.
- Foster an environment where team members are encouraged and praised for double-checking suspicious emails.
Resolution #2: Impersonate Your Vendors or Executives
This tactic is especially dangerous because it feels authentic.
Imagine an email stating:
"We've updated our bank details. Please use the new account for future payments."
Or a text from "the CEO" demanding:
"Urgent. Wire this now—I'm in a meeting and can't talk."
Even more alarming, deepfake voice scams are becoming common. Criminals clone voices from public videos or voicemail greetings, making phone requests sound exactly like your CEO.
This is not science fiction—it's happening now.
Your defense plan:
- Set a strict callback policy to verify bank details changes using verified phone numbers.
- Require voice confirmation for payments via recognized communication channels.
- Deploy multi-factor authentication on all finance and admin accounts to block unauthorized access, even if passwords are compromised.
Resolution #3: Amplify Attacks on Small Businesses
While large corporations have strengthened defenses and become less attractive targets, cybercriminals have shifted their focus.
Instead of attempting costly attacks on big firms, they now prefer multiple smaller attacks against small businesses that often lack dedicated security resources.
Attackers know:
- Your team is stretched thin
- You may not have specialized security experts
- You're juggling many responsibilities simultaneously
- You might underestimate your vulnerability ("We're too small to be targeted")
That underestimation is their biggest advantage.
Your defense plan:
- Implement foundational security measures—multi-factor authentication, regular software updates, and reliable backups—to strengthen your defenses beyond neighboring businesses.
- Eliminate the mindset that size equals immunity. Small businesses are prime targets and often go unnoticed when attacked.
- Partner with cybersecurity professionals who provide comprehensive defense tailored for small businesses.
Resolution #4: Exploit New Employee Onboarding and Tax Season Chaos
January introduces new hires who may be unfamiliar with company security protocols.
Their eagerness to contribute makes them especially vulnerable to manipulation.
Criminals exploit this by impersonating CEOs or HR leaders with urgent requests, such as:
"I need all employee W-2s sent ASAP for a meeting with the accountant."
Once fraudsters obtain W-2 forms, they can misuse sensitive employee information for fraudulent tax filings, leading to legitimate returns being rejected.
Your defense plan:
- Incorporate security awareness training as part of new hire onboarding, emphasizing phishing detection and company protocols.
- Establish clear policies such as "W-2s will never be emailed" and "payment requests must be verified by phone," and regularly test adherence.
- Encourage and reward employees who proactively verify suspicious requests.
Preventative Security Always Triumphs Over Reactive Solutions
Your cybersecurity options:
Option 1: Respond post-attack—cover ransoms, hire emergency assistance, notify clients, rebuild infrastructure. This approach is costly, time-consuming, and stressful.
Option 2: Proactively secure your business with ongoing protection, training, and threat monitoring to neutralize risks before they escalate—saving you money and headaches.
Think of cybersecurity like a fire extinguisher—you invest so you never have to use it.
How to Outsmart Cybercriminals in 2026
A trusted IT partner helps keep your business off cybercriminals' radar by:
- Monitoring your systems around the clock to detect and neutralize threats early
- Securing user access so compromised credentials won't jeopardize your entire network
- Educating your team on sophisticated scams beyond the obvious
- Enforcing verification protocols so wire transfers require multiple confirmations
- Maintaining and testing backups to minimize ransomware impacts
- Applying security updates promptly to close vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them
Embrace prevention rather than firefighting.
Cybercriminals are gearing up for 2026, counting on businesses like yours to be unprepared. It's time to prove them wrong.
Secure Your Business for the New Year
Schedule a comprehensive Security Reality Check. We'll identify your vulnerabilities, prioritize what matters most, and help you stop being an easy target.
No scare tactics. No confusing jargon. Just clear insights and actionable steps.
Click here or give us a call at (541) 726-7775 to book your 15-Minute Discovery Call.
Your best New Year's resolution? Ensuring your business isn't the next target on a cybercriminal's list.
