January 26, 2026
Right now, cybercriminals are crafting their own resolutions for the New Year.
But instead of focusing on wellness or work-life harmony, they're strategizing new ways to exploit and steal in 2026.
And guess who tops their list? Small businesses.
Not due to carelessness — but because your busy schedule leaves openings.
Cyber attackers thrive on distraction and overload.
Discover their top tactics for 2026 — and how you can stop them cold.
Resolution #1: Craft Phishing Emails That Seem Completely Genuine
The days of obvious scam emails filled with mistakes are gone.
Today's AI-generated messages:
- Sound authentic and natural
- Mimic your company's tone and style
- Include accurate references to real vendors you know
- Eliminate typical red flags like typos and awkward phrasing
Timing is everything. January emails hit while your team is catching up from the holidays and moving fast.
Example of a modern phishing email:
"Hi [your actual name], I tried sending the updated invoice, but it bounced back. Could you please confirm if this is still the correct accounting email? Here's the new version — let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, [real vendor's name]."
No urgent wire transfers or foreign princes — just a trusted contact making a routine request.
How to Fight Back:
- Train your team to verify suspicious requests through a different communication channel.
- Implement advanced email filters that detect impersonation attempts, like mismatched sender locations.
- Promote a workplace culture that applauds fact-checking and cautious confirmation.
Resolution #2: Impersonate Your Vendors or Executives to Trick Employees
This tactic feels alarmingly real.
Imagine receiving an email: "We've updated our bank details; please use this new account for upcoming payments."
Or a text from "the CEO" to your bookkeeper: "Urgent wire transfer needed. I'm in a meeting and can't speak right now."
Now, deepfake voice scams amplify this danger. Criminals clone voices from public videos to call employees, impersonating leaders flawlessly.
This isn't futuristic — it's happening today.
Your Defense Plan:
- Set strict callback protocols for any banking detail changes using verified contact numbers.
- Require voice confirmation for high-risk transactions through known communication channels.
- Protect finance and admin accounts with multi-factor authentication (MFA) to block unauthorized access.
Resolution #3: Intensify Attacks on Small Businesses
Previously, cybercriminals aimed at big targets like banks and Fortune 500 companies.
But strengthened enterprise security and regulations made big players tougher targets.
So hackers shifted focus.
Instead of one huge $5 million attack with high risk, they prefer numerous $50,000 hits that almost always succeed.
Small businesses have valuable funds and data but often lack dedicated security teams.
Attackers know:
- You're short-staffed
- You lack specialized cybersecurity support
- You juggle countless responsibilities
- You underestimate your risk assuming "we're too small to be targeted"
This complacency is their greatest advantage.
How to Shield Your Business:
- Implement basic defenses like MFA, timely software updates, and reliable backups to outsmart attackers.
- Eliminate the mindset that your business is "too small to matter" — attackers know otherwise.
- Partner with cybersecurity professionals to create a vigilant safety net.
Resolution #4: Exploit Seasonal Hiring And Tax Season Confusion
January means onboarding new employees who are unfamiliar with your security protocols.
Eager to impress and assist, these new team members rarely question instructions.
Perfect targets for cybercriminals posing as executives: "I'm traveling — can you promptly handle this?"
Tax season scams spike too — fake W-2 requests, payroll phishing, counterfeit IRS notices.
Attackers impersonate CEOs or HR directors demanding employee tax info, allowing fraudsters to file false returns and cause widespread damage.
Your Protective Measures:
- Conduct thorough security training during onboarding before granting email access.
- Establish clear policies such as "No W-2s sent via email" and "Payment requests must be verified by phone." Document and regularly test these policies.
- Encourage and reward employees for verifying suspicious requests rather than fearing they appear paranoid.
Prevention Always Outperforms Recovery
When it comes to cybersecurity, you have two paths:
Option A: React after a breach — pay ransoms, hire emergency experts, alert customers, and rebuild systems. This can cost hundreds of thousands and take months, leaving lasting scars.
Option B: Proactively protect your business — strengthen defenses, educate staff, and monitor threats continuously. This approach costs far less and keeps your operations smooth and secure.
Just like buying a fire extinguisher before a fire starts, invest in cybersecurity now so you never need it.
How to Derail Hackers' Plans
Trusted IT partners help you stay off criminals' easy-hit list by:
- 24/7 system monitoring that detects threats before breaches occur
- Restricting access so a single credential compromise doesn't cause widespread damage
- Educating your team on sophisticated scams, not just the obvious ones
- Implementing strict verification rules to prevent wire fraud
- Maintaining secure and tested backups so ransomware incidents are manageable
- Regularly patching software to close security gaps before they're exploited
Focus on preventing fires instead of putting them out.
Cybercriminals are strategizing 2026 with hopes your business stays vulnerable.
Let's prove them wrong together.
Remove Your Business from Their Target List
Schedule your New Year Security Reality Check today.
We'll pinpoint your vulnerabilities, prioritize risks, and guide you on steps to stop being the easiest target in 2026.
No scare tactics. No jargon. Just straightforward insights and practical solutions.
Click here or give us a call at 973-439-0306 to book your 10-Minute Discovery Call.
Your best New Year's resolution? Ensuring you're never on a hacker's agenda.
