January 26, 2026
Right now, somewhere out there, a cybercriminal is crafting their New Year's resolutions.
Unlike resolutions about wellness or balance, theirs focus on one thing: how to steal more in 2026, building off what worked in 2025.
And small businesses? They top the hit list.
Not because you lack care, but because you're busy — and criminals exploit that very fact.
Here's their 2026 strategy — and how you can outsmart it.
Resolution #1: "Craft Phishing Emails That Seamlessly Blend In"
The days of obvious scam emails filled with glaring mistakes are over.
Thanks to AI, attackers now send messages that:
- Sound perfectly natural and professional
- Adopt your company's voice and style
- Mention legitimate vendors you actually collaborate with
- Omit the usual giveaway red flags
These emails no longer rely on typos; they depend on perfect timing.
January is prime time — everyone's busy catching up post-holidays.
A typical modern phishing email might say:
"Hi [your actual name], I tried sending the updated invoice but it bounced back. Could you confirm if this is still the correct email for accounting? Here's the new version — let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, [name of your actual vendor]."
No flashy demands, no urgent wire transfers. Just a relatable request from a known contact.
How to Fight Back:
- Train your staff to verify any requests involving money or credentials using a separate method of contact.
- Implement automated email filters designed to detect impersonation attempts, like emails claiming to come from your accountant but originating from suspicious servers.
- Encourage a workplace culture where double-checking is praised — "I verified before responding" should be celebrated, not dismissed.
Resolution #2: "Impersonate Vendors and Executives with Convincing Precision"
This tactic hits hard because it feels believable and urgent.
A vendor email shows up:
"We've updated bank details. Please send future payments to the new account."
Or a text from "the CEO" reaches your bookkeeper:
"Urgent wire transfer needed now; I'm in a meeting and can't talk."
Increasingly, scammers use deepfake voice technology, cloning voices from online videos and voicemail greetings. Suddenly, a "CEO" call to finance feels real enough to trigger action.
This is not sci-fi—it's happening every day.
Your Defense Plan:
- Establish strict callback procedures for bank account changes, always verifying through known phone numbers.
- Require voice confirmation via trusted channels before completing payments.
- Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all finance and admin access to block unauthorized entry.
Resolution #3: "Focus Attacks More Aggressively on Small Businesses"
Once, cybercriminals targeted big organizations: banks, hospitals, Fortune 500s.
But as enterprise security toughened, attackers shifted gears.
Why risk one high-stake $5 million attack when
hundred $50,000 attacks on smaller targets are easier and nearly guaranteed?
Small businesses have valuable funds and data — and often lack dedicated security teams.
Hackers count on:
- Understaffed teams
- Absence of security specialists
- Overwhelmed employees juggling many roles
- The assumption: "We're too small to attract cybercriminals"
That last thought is their prime vulnerability.
Your Strategic Response:
- Adopt basic yet effective security measures — MFA, regular software updates, and tested backups — to make your business a tough target.
- Eliminate the mindset of being "too small to be targeted"; in reality, size only affects news coverage after an attack.
- Engage expert partners who can watch your back without the cost of an in-house security unit.
Resolution #4: "Exploit New Employee Onboarding and Tax Season Vulnerabilities"
January brings fresh hires often unfamiliar with your security policies.
Eager to succeed and hesitant to question authority, they become prime targets for scams.
Imagine a message like:
"I'm the CEO, traveling—please expedite this task."
Experienced employees might hesitate; new staff may act immediately.
Additionally, tax-related scams escalate around W-2 requests, payroll phishing, and fake IRS notices.
Attackers impersonate leaders requesting urgent tax documents. Once they have W-2s, your employees' Social Security numbers and salaries are at risk, enabling fraudulent tax filings.
How to Protect Your Team:
- Incorporate security training into new hire orientation before granting email access.
- Establish clear, documented policies such as "W-2s are never sent via email" and "All payment requests require phone verification." Regularly test compliance.
- Value and reward verification efforts by employees; foster a non-judgmental environment around caution.
Prevention Always Outweighs Recovery
You face two cybersecurity options:
Option A: React only after an attack — paying ransoms, hiring emergency help, dealing with customer notifications, rebuilding systems, and repairing damaged reputations. This can cost hundreds of thousands and take months.
Option B: Proactively prevent attacks by implementing robust security, training your team continuously, monitoring threats, and patching vulnerabilities promptly. This approach is far less costly and runs seamlessly in the background.
Think of it like fire safety: you purchase extinguishers not because you want fires, but because you're prepared not to need them.
How to Keep Your Business Off the Criminals' Radar
A reliable IT partner can protect you by:
- Providing 24/7 monitoring to detect threats early
- Enforcing strict access controls so stolen credentials don't unlock everything
- Educating your team on advanced scam techniques beyond the obvious
- Implementing wire fraud verification policies requiring more than just an email
- Maintaining and routinely testing backups so ransomware becomes a mere inconvenience
- Proactively patching vulnerabilities to close doors before anyone tries to enter
It's all about fire prevention — not firefighting.
Cybercriminals are already planning their 2026 attacks, counting on businesses like yours to be unprepared.
Let's prove them wrong.
Remove Your Business From Their Target List Now
Schedule your New Year Security Reality Check today.
We'll identify your vulnerabilities, prioritize what matters, and guide you on leaving low-hanging fruit behind in 2026.
No hype. No jargon. Just clear, actionable insight.
Click here or give us a call at (973) 575-4950 to schedule your Consultation.
Because the smartest New Year's resolution is ensuring you aren't on someone else's hit list.
