October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and we’re kicking things off with one of the biggest threats to small businesses in the U.P. and beyond: phishing.
Phishing emails are designed to trick you into clicking something you shouldn’t.
And while they’ve been around for a while, the tactics are getting more convincing every year.
Why phishing works (especially around here)
In close-knit communities, people tend to trust each other—which is usually a good thing.
But that trust can backfire when a cybercriminal spoofs a vendor, a coworker, or even the boss.
Imagine getting an email that looks like it’s from your bookkeeper asking you to approve a wire transfer.
Or a message from “Microsoft” asking you to reset your password.
It only takes one click.
Red flags to watch for
- Emails that feel urgent or a little off
- Slight misspellings in the sender’s address
- Unexpected attachments or links
- Requests for passwords or payments
What to do
- Slow down. If something feels weird, it probably is.
- Hover over links (don’t click) to see where they really go.
- Pick up the phone. Call the person who supposedly sent it.
- Report it. If you’re not sure, let IT take a look.
Make it part of your routine
Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue—it’s a team sport.
If your business doesn’t have a way to report phishing emails, now’s the time to put that in place.
And if you’re a DS Tech client, remember: You can forward suspicious emails to our team any time.
We’d rather check it and be safe than clean up after the fact.
Stay smart, stay skeptical, and don’t take the bait.
Coming next week: Why your password policy might be weaker than you think.
