January 26, 2026
Right now, somewhere a cybercriminal is crafting their New Year's resolutions too.
But unlike your goals of "self-care" or "work-life balance,"
they're analyzing their 2025 success and strategizing how to exploit even more in 2026.
Small businesses aren't targeted due to negligence.
It's because your team is busy managing countless tasks.
And cybercriminals thrive on that distraction.
Here's their 2026 playbook — and how you can stop them.
Resolution #1: "I Will Craft Phishing Emails That Are Impossible To Detect"
The days of obvious scam emails are behind us.
Artificial intelligence now produces messages that:
- Sound completely natural and professional
- Use your company's own terminology
- Reference authentic vendors you actually deal with
- Skip the typical giveaways to avoid raising suspicion
These are not filled with typos; their weapon is perfect timing.
January is ideal — when everyone is rushing post-holiday catch-up.
Example of a sophisticated phishing email:
"Hi [your actual name], I tried sending the updated invoice but it bounced back. Can you confirm your accounting email? Here's the revised version — let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, [name of your actual vendor]"
No fake princes. No urgent wire transfers. Just a convincing request from someone you trust.
How to fight back:
- Educate your team to always verify, especially for money or credential requests — never act on email alone.
- Implement advanced email filters that detect impersonation, such as emails from unexpected geographic servers.
- Foster a culture where double-checking is encouraged and celebrated, not dismissed as paranoia.
Resolution #2: "I Will Impersonate Your Vendors and Leaders"
This tactic is frighteningly effective because it sounds legitimate.
Imagine a vendor emailing:
"We've updated our bank info. Please use this new account going forward."
Or a text from "the CEO" to your finance staff:
"Urgent wire transfer needed. I'm in a meeting and can't answer calls."
Sometimes these scams go beyond text.
Voice deepfakes are rising, replicating voices from online videos or voicemails. The "CEO" calls your finance team and sounds exactly like them, requesting favors.
This isn't sci-fi; it's today's reality.
Your defense:
- Always enforce callback verification on bank detail changes via trusted phone numbers.
- Never approve payments without voice confirmation through established channels.
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all finance and admin accounts to prevent unauthorized access.
Resolution #3: "I Will Ramp Up Attacks Against Small Businesses"
Cybercriminals once focused on giants: banks, hospitals, Fortune 500s.
Improved security and tougher regulations made these targets challenging.
So hackers shifted strategy.
Instead of a single risky $5 million heist, they launch hundreds of $50,000 attacks that are almost certain to succeed.
Small businesses now top their hit list. You hold valuable money and data but often lack dedicated security resources.
Attackers capitalize on:
- Understaffed teams
- Absence of a cybersecurity department
- Heavily burdened employees
- The false belief "we're too small to be targeted"
This mindset is their greatest ally.
Your strategy:
- Implement essential defenses like MFA, frequent updates, and verified backups to make your business less appealing to attackers.
- Reject the myth that size protects you — small businesses are prime targets because they often fly under the radar.
- Engage expert cybersecurity partners to watch your back, even without a full in-house team.
Resolution #4: "I Will Exploit New Employees and Tax Season Chaos"
January brings fresh hires unfamiliar with your security protocols.
They're eager, cooperative, and less likely to question suspicious requests.
From a criminal's view, they're ideal targets.
"Hey, I'm the CEO. Can you do this quickly? I'm traveling and unreachable."
Seasoned staff hesitate, but new hires may comply hastily.
Tax season scams surge with fraudulent W-2 requests, payroll phishing, and fake IRS notices.
A common scam: Impersonating a leader to request W-2 forms urgently.
Once criminals have these, they steal employees' identities and file false tax returns, causing real employees to face rejected returns flagged as duplicates.
Prevention tips:
- Incorporate security training into onboarding before new hires access email.
- Set clear policies like "W-2s are never emailed" and enforce verification of payment requests.
- Encourage and reward employees who verify suspicious requests promptly.
Prevention Always Beats Recovery.
Choose your cybersecurity approach:
Option A: React post-attack — pay ransom, hire emergency experts, notify customers, repair damage, at great cost and delay.
Option B: Proactively secure your systems — train your team, monitor threats continuously, and shut down vulnerabilities early.
Just like you wouldn't wait to buy a fire extinguisher until after a fire, invest in security before disaster strikes.
How To Keep Your Business Off Their Radar
Partner with IT experts who:
- Constantly monitor your network 24/7 to intercept threats early
- Secure access with strong credentials and MFA
- Educate your team on sophisticated scams, not just the obvious ones
- Implement strict verification policies to block wire fraud attempts
- Maintain and test backups, ensuring ransomware is a minor setback, not a catastrophe
- Apply timely security patches to seal vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them
Focus on prevention over reactive firefighting.
Cybercriminals have set ambitious 2026 targets, counting on businesses like yours to be unprepared.
Let's prove them wrong.
Secure Your Business Today
Schedule a comprehensive New Year Security Reality Check.
We'll identify your vulnerabilities, prioritize risks, and help you become untouchable to cyber threats in 2026.
No fearmongering. No confusing jargon. Just clear insight and actionable next steps.
Click here or give us a call at 332-217-0601 to Speak to an Expert.
After all, the smartest New Year's resolution is ensuring you're never on a hacker's to-do list.
