August may be vacation season for most of us—but for cybercriminals, it’s open season on unsuspecting employees. Here in Tampa Bay, we see it every year: phishing attempts skyrocket as people return from summer travel and gear up for back-to-school chaos.
Why Hackers Love August
Summer travel? Back-to-school shopping? Cybercriminals use these distractions to trick your employees.
Common Tactics We See:
- Fake hotel or Airbnb confirmations
- University email impersonations
- Travel-themed scams targeting personal email accounts
Why does this matter to your business? Because employees often check personal email or click on suspicious links from work devices. It only takes one mistake to expose your entire network.
The Business Risk You Can't Ignore
If phishing leads to a breach, you could face:
- Regulatory fines
- Client trust erosion
- Operational downtime
In short: a summer click can turn into a fall crisis.
Simple Steps to Protect Your Team
1. Train Before Trouble
Employees should know how to spot fake links, odd domains, and scam senders. Refresh that training now.
2. Keep Work and Personal Devices Separate
No Gmail on the work desktop. No bank apps on the company tablet. Draw clear lines.
3. MFA Is Your Best Friend
Multifactor authentication adds a crucial extra layer of security. Use app-based MFA, not just text codes.
4. Don’t Trust Public Wi-Fi
If remote work or travel is involved, use a VPN—especially when accessing sensitive client data.
5. Ask Your MSP About EDR
Tools like endpoint detection and response (EDR) monitor for odd behavior, block threats, and help you react fast if something slips through.
Stay Sharp, Stay Safe
AI-generated phishing emails are smarter than ever, and your best defense is a proactive strategy. At Reef Cyber Security, we help professional firms across Tampa Bay keep their guard up without overwhelming their team.
Let’s start with a FREE Cybersecurity Assessment. We’ll show you what your systems are catching—and what they might be missing.
