The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year — and it’s also when phishing attacks Knoxville small business owners face are at their peak. Cybercriminals know employees are distracted, inboxes are overflowing, and many companies have fewer IT resources available. That combination makes it easier for attackers to sneak in fraudulent emails.
Why Phishing Attacks Increase During the Holidays
Cybercriminals often send fake invoices, delivery notifications, and seasonal promotions to trick employees into clicking malicious links. One wrong click can expose client information, credentials, or even financial systems. According to the FBI’s 2023 Internet Crime Report, phishing was the most frequently reported crime type in 2023 with 298,878 complaints (~34% of all reports). Internet Crime Complaint Center
Training Employees to Prevent Phishing Attacks
One of the best defenses against phishing attacks on Knoxville small businesses is employee training. Even short awareness sessions can help staff recognize suspicious emails. Red flags include:
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Unexpected attachments or download requests
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Links that don’t match the sender’s address
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Messages with urgent or threatening language
IT Defenses for Knoxville Small Businesses
Training helps, but technology should also carry the load. Small businesses can protect against phishing by:
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Using advanced email filtering to block suspicious messages
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Enabling multifactor authentication on all critical accounts
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Deploying endpoint protection and web filtering to prevent access to malicious sites
Local IT Support for Phishing Protection
At My IT Guys, we provide month-to-month IT support for Knoxville small businesses. By combining employee education with enterprise-grade tools, we help ensure phishing attempts don’t disrupt your busiest season.
Stay Safe This Holiday Season
Phishing attempts spike in November and December. Preparing now helps your business avoid downtime, protect client data, and keep operations running smoothly.
For more protection tips, read our guide on How to Protect Your Small Business from Ransomware Before Year-End.