Cyberattacks aren’t just for the headlines anymore. They’ve become everyday threats — especially for small businesses. And yet, many business owners still think, “That wouldn’t happen to us.”
Here’s the truth: These attacks aren’t rare. They’re routine.
And they don’t require sophisticated hackers. They just require one mistake. One moment of trust. One outdated system.
Let’s walk through the most common types of attacks in plain English — and how they’re actually being used to take down small businesses.
1. Phishing & Business Email Compromise (BEC)
This is the #1 way most cyberattacks begin. A fake email — often made to look like Microsoft, your bank, or even your boss — gets one employee to click a link or reply with sensitive info.
🔍 Real example: A local industrial company wired $100,000 to cybercriminals after getting a fake invoice from what looked like a trusted partner.
Why it works: These emails look legit. The grammar is better now. The logos are perfect. And the sender might be spoofed to match someone in your organization.
2. Ransomware
This is where hackers encrypt your files and demand money to get them back. It can happen via email attachments, vulnerable software, or infected websites.
🔍 Real example: One small CPA firm spent hundreds of thousands recovering from ransomware — and that was with cyber insurance and a decent IT provider.
Why it works: Most small businesses don’t have tested backups or a clear incident response plan. Hackers know this — and they exploit the panic.
3. Credential Theft / Password Reuse
Hackers buy stolen passwords off the dark web and try them across other websites. If you reuse passwords, you’re vulnerable.
🔍 What this looks like: You get locked out of your email. Then your clients get phishing messages from you. Then your bank login doesn’t work…
Why it works: Most people still reuse passwords and don’t use two-factor authentication.
4. Malicious Attachments & Drive-by Downloads
Opening a file or visiting a sketchy site can install malware instantly — without you noticing. It can log your keystrokes, steal files, or give full remote access.
🔍 What this looks like: An employee downloads a resume PDF or invoice — now your entire network is compromised.
Why it works: Antivirus alone often doesn’t catch these modern threats.
5. Fake Invoices & Wire Fraud
Scammers pretend to be vendors, clients, or internal staff to get you to wire money — and the emails look perfectly legit.
🔍 Real example: A company paid a fake $100K invoice that looked like it came from a known supplier. They only realized it days later — when the real supplier followed up.
Why it works: Criminals spend time studying your staff and vendors. These aren’t random — they’re well-researched cons.
6. Social Engineering
Sometimes it’s not about tech. It’s about people.
Phone calls pretending to be IT. Fake text messages from the CEO. “Can you send me that login real quick?”
🔍 What this looks like: Your office manager gets a call that “your payroll software is having issues — can you log in to verify?”
Why it works: In busy workplaces, people want to be helpful. Criminals exploit that.
7. Unpatched Software & Vulnerabilities
When systems don’t get updated, hackers can exploit known flaws — even years later.
🔍 Real example: A client of ours came to us after losing six months of work during an attack that exploited unpatched systems. Their former provider didn’t set up reliable backups.
Why it works: Updates can feel like a hassle, so many businesses delay them. Hackers love that.
Final Thoughts:
These aren’t “maybe someday” threats. These are today threats — and most businesses don’t know they’re vulnerable until it’s too late.
If you’ve never had a full cybersecurity risk assessment — not a free scan, but a real deep-dive into your systems — now is the time.
Know your risk. Know your weak spots.
Because hope is not a security strategy.