Why Phishing Attacks Surge in Late Summer (and How to Stay Safe)

Cybercriminals Don’t Take Summer Off

You might be coming back from vacation, but hackers never left. Phishing attacks spike in late summer, using seasonal habits to catch people off guard.

And it’s not just about travel. August also brings a wave of back-to-school phishing scams, targeting students, parents, and staff with fake university emails. Even if your business isn’t in education, your employees might be pursuing degrees, or helping their kids enroll, and that personal click on a work device could open the door to your network.

Why Phishing Is Getting Harder to Spot

AI is making phishing attacks more convincing. Gone are the days of bad grammar and obvious typos. Scammers now use AI to create almost perfect emails that look like they came from legitimate companies. These emails often:

• Impersonate brands you trust

• Include logos and formatting that look professional

• Link to fake websites that are nearly identical to the real ones

How to Protect Your Business This Season

1. Scrutinize the Sender: Check the actual email address, not just the display name. Hover over links before clicking, and if the URL looks strange or doesn’t match the official site, don’t trust it.

2. Spot Suspicious Domains: Look for unusual endings like .today or .info. These are often used in scams.

3. Go Direct: Instead of clicking links in emails or texts, type the official site into your browser or use saved bookmarks.

4. Enable Strong MFA: Multifactor authentication makes it harder for attackers to use stolen credentials. Choose app-based or hardware-key MFA over SMS.

5. Avoid Public Wi-Fi Risks: If you must connect in public, use a VPN, especially for sensitive accounts like banking or booking portals.

6. Separate Work and Personal Use: Don’t check personal email or social media on work devices. Keep business accounts on business devices.

7. Ask Your MSP About EDR: Endpoint Detection and Response software can monitor for phishing attempts, block suspicious downloads, and alert your IT provider instantly if a breach occurs.

Phishing scams are getting smarter, faster, and harder to detect and AI is accelerating the trend. The best defense is an aware, trained team backed by the right security tools.

KairosIT helps Florida and California businesses strengthen their defenses against phishing and other cyber threats without slowing down operations.

Start the season secure! Book your free cybersecurity and network Check-Up today.