While you’re meal-prepping, downloading meditation apps, and promising that this is the year you’ll get organized, cybercriminals are setting resolutions too.

Theirs just don’t involve fitness trackers or giving up bread.

They’re reviewing last year’s wins, refining their tactics, and mapping out how to make 2026 even more profitable — usually at the expense of businesses that are distracted, understaffed, or “catching up” after the holidays.

Not because your business is careless.
But because January is chaotic.

New hires are onboarding. Inboxes are full. People are moving fast.
And cybercriminals love fast.

Let’s take a look at their 2026 resolutions — and how to absolutely ruin every single one.

Resolution #1: “Send Phishing Emails That Fool Smart People”

The obvious scam emails? The ones riddled with typos and weird links?

Those are gone.

Today’s phishing emails are:

• Grammatically correct
• Polite
• On-brand
• Sometimes referencing real vendors you actually use

Because yes — AI is writing scam emails now, just without the inspirational quotes.

In January, all it takes is one well-timed message while everyone’s catching up from the break. Timing beats sophistication every time.

Your counter-resolution:

• Verification over assumption
• Email filtering that detects domain impersonation
• A culture where asking “Is this legit?” is encouraged, not awkward

That quick pause to double-check?
That’s cybersecurity gold.

Resolution #2: “Impersonate Vendors, Bosses, CFOs — and Their Voices”

Cybercriminals unlocked an uncomfortable cheat code:

If something sounds urgent and authoritative, people act.

Now add AI voice cloning.

A scammer can pull audio from:

• LinkedIn videos
• Webinars
• Interviews

Then call an employee sounding exactly like leadership and say:

“Hey, can you handle this transfer? I need it done fast.”

That’s not futuristic.
That’s happening now.

Your counter-resolution:

• Callback rules for banking changes
• Verification steps for large payments
• Multi-factor authentication everywhere it matters

If your business still trusts urgency and email signatures alone, 2026 is going to be… unpleasant.

Resolution #3: “Target Small Businesses Harder Than Ever”

Big organizations locked things down.

So attackers adjusted.

Instead of chasing one massive payout, they’re collecting smaller wins — repeatedly.

Why small businesses?
Because statistically:

• Updates get delayed
• Policies exist “somewhere”
• Passwords get reused
• Backups are assumed, not tested
• Someone is still using a spreadsheet for payroll

Hackers aren’t confused.
They’re opportunistic.

Your counter-resolution:
Be harder to breach than the business next door.

You don’t need perfection.
You just need enough structure that attackers move on.

Cybercriminals don’t chase resistance.
They chase convenience.

Resolution #4: “Exploit New Hires and Tax-Season Chaos”

January onboarding is prime time.

New employees want to be helpful.
Helpful people move fast.

That’s when messages like:

“I’m traveling — can you handle this wire transfer?”

slip through.

Then February hits. Tax season begins.
Fake W-2 requests roll in.

With one email, attackers can collect:

• Social Security numbers
• Earnings data
• Employee rosters
• Home addresses

Identity theft, disguised as payroll efficiency.

Your counter-resolution:

• Security training during onboarding
• Clear written policies like:
  • “We never email W-2s”
  • “All payment changes require callback verification”
• Reward verification behavior

If someone double-checks?
Give them confetti.

Prevention > Recovery (Every Time)

You really only have two strategies this year.

• Strategy A: React After the Attack
  • Pay ransom
  • Replace systems
  • Notify customers
  • Apologize publicly
  • Lose weeks of productivity
  • ⏳ Expensive. Stressful. Public.
• Strategy B: Prevent the Attack
  • Close vulnerabilities early
  • Train employees before mistakes happen
  • Monitor systems continuously
  • Test backups instead of assuming

💰 Costs less
⏳ Impact is invisible — in the best way

Prevention is boring.
Recovery is dramatic, expensive, and very public.

Choose boring.

How to Ruin a Cybercriminal’s 2026 Goals

A proper IT partner helps you:

• Monitor systems 24/7
• Shut down credential abuse
• Enforce real verification rules
• Test backup recoverability
• Patch vulnerabilities before they’re exploited
• Train employees on modern — not outdated — scams

January is when cybercriminals get optimistic.

Let’s disappoint them early.

 

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