January 26, 2026
Right now, cybercriminals are crafting their own New Year's resolutions — but theirs are far from positive.
Instead of aiming for "self-care" or "a better work-life balance," they're analyzing what hacking strategies succeeded in 2025 and plotting to steal more in 2026.
And their favorite targets? Small businesses.
Not because you're careless, but because your hectic schedule creates perfect opportunities.
Busy teams mean distracted defenses — and cybercriminals thrive on that.
Here's their 2026 playbook — and how you can dismantle it.
Resolution #1: "Create Phishing Emails That Blend In Seamlessly"
Gone are the days of obvious scam emails riddled with typos.
With advances in AI, attackers craft messages that:
- Sound completely genuine.
- Use your company's tone and terminology.
- Reference real vendors you work with.
- Avoid traditional red flags that raise suspicion.
It's all about timing, especially January, when everyone's distracted recovering from the holidays.
A modern phishing example:
"Hi [Your Actual Name], I attempted to send the updated invoice, but it bounced back. Can you confirm this is still the right accounting email? Here's the new version — let me know if any questions. Thanks, [Your Actual Vendor's Name]"
No royal heirs or urgent wire transfers—just a believable and familiar request.
How to Fight Back:
- Educate your team to always verify requests involving money or credentials through a separate, trusted channel.
- Implement advanced email filters that detect impersonation attempts, like emails claiming to be from your accountant but originating overseas.
- Foster a culture where double-checking is encouraged and celebrated, not criticized.
Resolution #2: "Impersonate Vendors and Executives with Convincing Precision"
This tactic is especially dangerous because it feels authentic.
Imagine receiving an email:
"Hey, we've updated our bank details. Please use this new account for upcoming payments."
Or a text from your "CEO":
"Urgent. Wire this now. I'm in a meeting and can't talk."
It doesn't stop at text messages anymore.
Deepfake voice scams are surging, using clips from public videos and calls to mimic your leaders perfectly. A fake "CEO" might call your finance team requesting a "quick favor," sounding exactly like the real person.
This isn't sci-fi; it's happening every day.
How to Respond:
- Set strict callback procedures for any bank detail changes, confirming requests via known numbers, not those in suspicious emails.
- Require voice confirmation for all payment transactions through established communication channels.
- Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication on all finance and administrative accounts to block unauthorized access even if passwords are compromised.
Resolution #3: "Increase Targeting of Small Businesses More Than Ever"
Previously, cybercriminals zeroed in on big players — banks, hospitals, Fortune 500s.
As enterprise defenses improved and regulations tightened, these targets became difficult to breach.
So cybercriminals shifted focus.
Instead of risking one costly $5 million attack, they launch numerous $50,000 attacks against small businesses with less security.
Small businesses now carry valuable data and funds and often lack dedicated security teams.
Attackers count on:
- Limited staffing or resources.
- No specialized security personnel.
- Overloaded staff juggling multiple roles.
- The misconception "we're too small to matter."
That last assumption is precisely what puts you at risk.
How to Defend Yourself:
- Don't be low-hanging fruit. Basic security like MFA, timely software updates, and regular backup testing make you a tougher target.
- Eliminate "too small to be targeted" from your mindset — you're a target, just under the radar.
- Partner with cybersecurity experts who can safeguard your business without the cost of a full security team.
Resolution #4: "Exploit New Employees and Tax Season Chaos"
January brings fresh hires unfamiliar with your security protocols — eager to help, hesitant to question authority.
These new employees are prime targets.
Fraudsters might impersonate your CEO with messages like:
"Can you quickly handle this? I'm traveling and can't talk right now."
Established employees might hesitate, but new hires often comply immediately.
Tax filing time compounds risks — scams requesting W-2 forms, payroll phishing, fake IRS notices increase dramatically.
Attackers impersonate HR or executives asking for all employee W-2s "ASAP," enabling identity theft and fraudulent tax filings.
Your Defense Strategy:
- Incorporate comprehensive security training during onboarding before granting email access.
- Enforce clear policies like "W-2s are never emailed" and "all payment requests must be verified by phone," with regular testing.
- Encourage and reward verification efforts to promote a vigilant culture.
Prevention Always Outweighs Recovery.
When it comes to cybersecurity, you have two paths:
Option A: React after a breach — paying ransoms, hiring emergency support, informing customers, rebuilding systems, and enduring expensive, lengthy recovery.
Option B: Prevent breaches through strong security, ongoing training, diligent monitoring, and closing vulnerabilities before exploitation.
Investing in prevention costs a fraction of recovery — and peace of mind is priceless.
How to Break Their Plans in 2026
A trusted IT partner helps you stay off the cybercriminals' radar by:
- Monitoring systems around the clock to neutralize threats early.
- Enforcing strict access controls so one stolen password isn't your downfall.
- Training your staff on recognizing sophisticated scams — not outdated ones.
- Setting up rigorous verification protocols to prevent wire fraud.
- Maintaining and testing backups to make ransomware setbacks manageable.
- Applying timely patches to close vulnerabilities before they're exploited.
Focus on fire prevention instead of fire fighting.
Cybercriminals are already plotting their 2026 attacks, hoping for easy targets like you.
Let's prove them wrong.
Remove Your Business from Their Target List Today
Schedule a New Year Security Reality Check.
We'll help you identify vulnerabilities, prioritize actions, and stop being the easy mark in 2026.
No scare tactics or confusing jargon — just clear insights and practical steps.
Because the best New Year's resolution is ensuring you're not on a cybercriminal's to-do list.
