You and your employees may be getting back from vacation, but cybercriminals never take a day off. In fact, data shown in studies from vendors ProofPoint and Check Point indicate that phishing attempts actually spike in the summer months. Here’s how to stay aware and stay protected.
Why The Increased Risk?
Summer might be winding down, but phishing attacks are just heating up.
August is one of the most dangerous months for email-based cyberattacks. While your team is catching up after vacation, cybercriminals are hard at work exploiting seasonal trends, distracted employees, and increased travel-related activity.
According to research from cybersecurity firms ProofPoint and Check Point, phishing attacks spike during the summer, with attackers taking full advantage of looser routines and increased online activity.
Why the Risk Is Higher in August
- Vacation Scams Are on the Rise
Check Point Research reports a 55% year-over-year increase in new vacation-related domains created in May 2025 alone. Out of over 39,000 domains tied to travel or lodging, 1 in 21 was flagged as malicious or suspicious.
Cybercriminals mimic hotel websites, Airbnb listings, and booking confirmations to lure victims into clicking malicious links or entering sensitive credentials.
- Back-to-School Scams Target Personal Email Use
August also marks the start of the back-to-school season, and attackers have taken notice. Fake emails pretending to be from universities and student portals are more common during this time of year—and they can reach your office faster than you think.
If an employee checks personal email on a work device and clicks one wrong link, your business network could be exposed in seconds.
The New Face of Phishing
AI has made phishing emails harder to detect. Gone are the obvious grammar mistakes and suspicious formatting. Today’s scam emails are polished, convincing, and professionally written.
This is why small businesses need to be proactive—not reactive—about cybersecurity awareness.
What You Can Do to Stay Safe This Season
1. Train Your Team to Spot Suspicious Emails
Remind employees to check not just the content of an email, but also:
- The sender’s email address
- Link URLs (hover before clicking)
- Unusual domain endings like .info, .click, or .today
2. Don’t Click—Navigate Directly
Instead of clicking links in emails or texts, go directly to the site by typing in the URL. It reduces the risk of landing on a spoofed site.
3. Use Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
Even if someone’s password is stolen, MFA can prevent unauthorized access. Use app-based or hardware MFA—avoid text-message-based MFA when possible.
4. Avoid Public Wi-Fi Without a VPN
Employees working remotely or while traveling should use a virtual private network (VPN) when connecting to public Wi-Fi, especially if accessing sensitive data.
5. Separate Work and Personal Accounts
Do not check personal email or social media accounts from company devices. One click on the wrong link in a personal inbox could expose your entire network.
6. Ask Your IT Provider About Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
EDR software monitors user activity, detects phishing attempts and malicious downloads, and automatically alerts your managed IT provider if there’s suspicious behavior. It’s one of the best defenses against modern email-based attacks.
Knowledge Is Still the Best Defense
Phishing tactics are evolving faster than ever—thanks in part to AI. That’s why consistent education, layered security tools, and smart habits are essential for keeping your business safe.
At Titan Technologies, we help small businesses across Central New Jersey implement the tools and training needed to reduce phishing risks, protect endpoints, and secure company data—even when your team is out of office.
Start the Season Secure
Don’t let a fake vacation email or back-to-school scam become a real business crisis. Schedule a FREE Cybersecurity Assessment with our team today. We’ll evaluate your current protections and show you exactly where your vulnerabilities are—before cybercriminals do.
Book your free assessment at www.TimeForTitan.com or call 732-972-6665.