You might be coming back from vacation, but cybercriminals haven’t gone anywhere.
In fact, August is one of the most dangerous months for phishing attacks—and small businesses across Knoxville, Sevierville, Maryville, and the rest of East Tennessee are right in the crosshairs.
🚨 Why Cybercriminals Ramp Up Attacks in Late Summer
Cybersecurity researchers at Proofpoint and Check Point have reported that phishing scams increase significantly during the summer months, especially August.
Why? Because you—and your team—are distracted.
Whether it’s vacation planning, back-to-school shopping, or checking personal email on a work device, hackers know this is prime time to catch someone off guard.
🏖️ Travel-Related Phishing
Check Point Research found a 55% increase in fake travel domains in May 2025 compared to the previous year.
These scam websites imitate:
- Hotel chains
- Airbnb listings
- Vacation rental confirmations
And one in every 21 new travel domains was flagged as malicious or suspicious.
🎓 Back-to-School Scams
Even if you don’t work in education, phishing emails disguised as university or school messages can easily trick an employee—especially one working on a degree or with school-aged kids.
It only takes one wrong click on a company device to open the door to ransomware or data theft.
🧠 Why AI Makes Phishing Emails Harder to Spot
The rise of AI tools means phishing emails are no longer full of typos and poor grammar. They’re polished. Professional. Convincing.
That’s why your East Tennessee business needs a clear, layered defense—starting with training and awareness.
✅ How to Protect Your Business from August Phishing Attacks
Here’s what we recommend to our small business clients across East Tennessee:
🛑 1. Watch for Subtle Red Flags
Even AI-generated emails have clues.
✅ Look closely at the sender's email address
✅ Hover over links to see the actual URL
✅ Be skeptical of urgency or scare tactics
🔗 2. Never Click Suspicious Links—Type URLs Instead
Encourage your team to manually search for websites instead of clicking on links in emails, especially for things like booking confirmations or login pages.
🧠 3. Use Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
MFA adds an extra layer of protection if credentials are stolen.
✅ App-based MFA is more secure than text messages
✅ It’s simple to use and a must-have for all business logins
🌐 4. Be Careful on Public Wi-Fi
If your team works remotely or travels, using a VPN on public Wi-Fi is a smart way to prevent eavesdropping or credential theft.
📵 5. Keep Personal Email Off Work Devices
Accessing personal Gmail, Yahoo, or social accounts on company computers increases risk.
Set the policy: keep personal use on personal devices.
🔐 6. Ask Your MSP About Endpoint Security (EDR)
EDR software is a must-have for today’s businesses.
It monitors devices, detects phishing attempts, and alerts us in real time to stop threats before they spread.
We include this in all of our cybersecurity packages, because waiting until after an attack is too late.
🎯 Final Thought: Don’t Let One Click Wipe Out Your Business
Phishing attacks don’t just happen to “other companies.” They happen to small businesses just like yours—and August is prime time.
If your current IT provider hasn’t talked to you about phishing trends, EDR, or AI-generated scams… you might already be at risk.
📍 Start the Season Secure with a FREE Cybersecurity Assessment
At CD Technology, we help business owners in Knoxville, Sevierville, Maryville, and across East Tennessee stay ahead of evolving threats with real protection and real answers.
✅ No jargon
✅ No scare tactics
✅ Just a clear plan that works
