You may be easing back into the swing of things after a summer vacation, but cybercriminals? They don’t take time off. In fact, August is one of their favorite months to strike. Research from 
cybersecurity firms like Check Point and ProofPoint shows phishing activity surges during the summer—especially around travel and back-to-school season.
Here’s why it happens—and what you can do to stay safe.
🔍 Why August?
Hackers are savvy. They know people are booking last-minute vacations, managing Airbnb check-ins, or prepping for school. So they create lookalike travel and education websites designed to trick users. Check Point reports a 55% year-over-year increase in vacation-related domains this past May alone—and out of 39,000+ new sites, one in every 21 was either suspicious or downright malicious.
Even if your business isn’t in travel or education, you’re still at risk. Employees checking personal email on work devices—even just once—can unknowingly open the door to a full-scale breach.
🧠 The Smarter the AI, the Smarter the Scam
AI isn’t just powering productivity—it’s also making scams eerily realistic. That typo-filled phishing email from a few years ago? Today’s versions are slick, grammatically sound, and hyper-targeted. You and your team need more than just common sense to spot them.
🛡️ Practical Steps to Protect Your Business
Let’s make August a security stronghold. Here’s how:
- Be skeptical of slick emails. Even well-written messages can be dangerous. Always check the sender’s address and hover over any links before clicking. Watch for odd domains like .today or .info.
- Google it yourself. Don’t click links in emails—search for the company or booking portal directly instead.
- Enable MFA across the board. Multifactor authentication isn’t optional anymore. It’s your last line of defense if someone gets your login.
- Use a VPN on public WiFi. Accessing sensitive info on hotel WiFi or coffee shop hotspots? Make sure a VPN is part of your routine.
- Keep work and personal separate. Personal emails and social media accounts don’t belong on work devices. One click on a rogue link can take down your whole network.
- Ask your MSP about endpoint security. Modern threats call for modern defenses. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools monitor and shut down suspicious activity fast—before damage spreads.
📣 Final Word: Stay Sharp, Stay Safe
Phishing attacks are evolving fast—and so should your defenses. Keep your team in the loop, and don’t wait for a “wake-up call” to take action. When it comes to cybersecurity, awareness isn’t optional. It’s armor.
Start the season secure—book your FREE Cybersecurity Assessment today → https://go.appointmentcore.com/AnthonyPorch