And What You Can Do to Stay Ahead

You and your team might be coming back from summer vacation, but cybercriminals never check out. In fact, late summer is one of the busiest seasons for phishing attacks — and most businesses don’t even see it coming.

Data from Check Point and Proofpoint shows a sharp increase in phishing attempts during the summer months. Hackers know this is the time when people are traveling more, relaxing more, and paying less attention. That’s exactly what they’re counting on.

At SpartanTec, we’ve seen how quickly one wrong click can compromise an entire network. Here’s what you need to watch out for — and how to protect your business before it happens.

Why the Increased Risk?

Hackers follow patterns. They know August is full of distractions:

  • Vacation planning means more people are booking hotels and Airbnbs, often from their work devices.
  • Back-to-school season floods inboxes with university emails, many of which are impersonated by attackers.
  • AI-powered phishing kits make it easier than ever to create convincing fake messages — no misspellings or clumsy formatting needed.

In May 2025 alone, over 39,000 new vacation-related domains were registered. One in every 21 was flagged as malicious or suspicious.

The threat isn’t just to individuals — it’s to your entire business. All it takes is an employee checking personal email on a company laptop, clicking one malicious link, and suddenly your systems are exposed.

What You Can Do (Without Becoming a Security Expert)

Phishing attacks aren’t just more frequent — they’re more believable. That’s why it’s critical to slow down, stay alert, and build smart habits into your daily workflows.

Here’s what we recommend at SpartanTec:

  1. Examine Emails Closely
    Don’t rely on misspellings to spot a scam — AI can write perfect emails too.
    Always check the sender address, not just the display name. Hover over links before clicking to verify where they lead.
  2. Double-Check URLs
    Watch for odd spellings or strange domain endings like .today, .info, or .click. These are often red flags for scam sites.
  3. Visit Sites Directly
    If something looks important — a reservation, account notice, or invoice — go straight to the site yourself. Don’t trust links in the email.
  4. Use Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
    MFA is one of the most effective ways to protect login credentials. App-based MFA is more secure than text message codes.
  5. Avoid Public Wi-Fi Without Protection
    If you must connect to public Wi-Fi, always use a VPN before accessing sensitive data.
  6. Separate Personal and Work Devices
    Personal email, banking, and social media should never be accessed from work machines. Keep a clear boundary between personal activity and business systems.
  7. Ask About Endpoint Security
    Tools like EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) give your MSP visibility into suspicious activity and can stop phishing attacks before they spread. It’s like having a 24/7 digital watchdog for your network.

Stay Alert — Phishing Attacks Are Evolving Fast

The reality is this: AI is helping attackers move faster and hide better. They don’t need to get creative — just convincing. And with every season comes a new wave of scams tied to current events, trends, and distractions.

That’s why we train every SpartanTec client to pause before they click — and to treat every unexpected email or login prompt with healthy skepticism.

Start the season secure.
Let’s make sure your team is trained, your systems are protected, and your business isn’t an easy target.

Schedule your cybersecurity assessment today: www.spartantec.com/discoverycall