August 18, 2025
While you and your team return from vacation, cybercriminals stay relentlessly active. According to recent research by ProofPoint and Check Point, summer months actually see a significant surge in phishing attacks. Here's how you can sharpen your vigilance and strengthen your defenses.
Why Are Summer Months More Vulnerable?
Cyber attackers exploit summer travel trends by mimicking popular hotel and Airbnb websites, reveals Check Point Research. They have identified a remarkable 55% jump in new travel-related domain registrations as of May 2025 compared to last year, with over 39,000 domains created—one out of every 21 flagged as malicious or suspicious.
Additionally, as the academic year approaches, phishing attempts posing as official university communications escalate, targeting both students and staff. Even if unrelated to your workplace directly, employees accessing personal email on work devices while managing studies or vacations can inadvertently expose your company's critical data with just a single misguided click.
How To Protect Your Team Now
Although AI enhances cybersecurity and streamlines operations, it also empowers attackers to craft more convincing phishing scams. Educating yourself and your team on spotting these threats is crucial.
Essential safety strategies to avoid cyberattacks:
Watch for suspicious emails. Beyond spotting misspellings and awkward language—since AI can generate polished phishing emails—scrutinize sender addresses and any visible link text to verify authenticity.
Verify URLs carefully. Look out for subtle typos or unusual domain extensions like .today or .info that scammers commonly use.
Navigate directly to websites. Instead of clicking links embedded in messages or emails, type the address into your browser or use a trusted search engine.
Activate Multifactor Authentication (MFA). MFA provides a critical additional layer of security, ensuring that even if credentials are compromised, your sensitive data remains protected.
Exercise caution with public WiFi. When using unsecured networks, always connect through a VPN to safeguard access to sensitive sites like booking systems or online banking.
Keep personal emails off company devices. Restrict personal messaging, email, and social media usage to personal devices to minimize risks to your business environment.
Consult your MSP about endpoint security. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools actively monitor desktops and mobile devices to identify and halt phishing and malware threats, alerting your managed service provider immediately if breaches occur.
As phishing methods rapidly evolve, accelerated by AI advancements, maintaining your team's awareness is your strongest defense. Stay informed, stay alert, and protect your business.
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