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How One Phishing Email Can Destroy Your Business Reputation

Picture of Carmine J. Corridore

Carmine J. Corridore

Carmine Corridore is a seasoned professional in the I.T. industry with over 30 years of experience. He has held various positions from field tech, team lead, service manager, project manager, and Director of I.T. Currently, he serves as the Client Facing Chief Strategy Officer and President of Underdog Cyber Defense. Carmine is a Rotarian and serves on the local chamber board and several committees. Carmine believes in giving back to the community, and he accomplishes that through donations and sourcing local talent and goods. Carmine is Credentialed and Certified in Cybersecurity.

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It started like any other day for Susan, a small business owner who ran a successful accounting firm. She opened her inbox with the usual morning coffee to sift through client emails. One message caught her attention: a familiar vendor requesting payment on an overdue invoice. The email looked legitimate, even down to the company logo and the formal tone.

Without thinking twice, she clicked the link and redirected to a portal that asked her to enter her email credentials. Susan hesitated for a minute as the portal was unfamiliar, but then she thought, “OK, they must have upgraded their website.” She continued and entered her email address and password. The website continued to the next page, but it appeared to have loaded incorrectly, and she received an error message. Susan remembers commenting, “Hmm, I guess they are still working out the bugs; I’ll check back with them later,” she closed the page and went on with her day.

Some time passed, and then suddenly, she got phone calls from clients, vendors, and staff. Everyone was getting similar strange emails from Susan. She was at a loss as to what was happening. Later that day, she got a phone call from her bank. They were noticing some strange activity on her account.

How It Happens to Anyone

What Susan experienced is a common scenario in today’s digital landscape. Many small business owners, like Susan, believe cybercriminals won’t target them because they’re “too small to be on the radar.” Small businesses are often prime targets precisely because they might lack advanced security measures.

In Susan’s case, the culprit was a phishing attack—a type of cyberattack in which fraudulent emails trick the recipient into revealing sensitive information or downloading malicious software. Phishing is one of the most common methods attackers use today, and they’re becoming increasingly sophisticated. Even careful, diligent business owners can fall victim.

How Phishing Works (And Why It’s So Effective)

Phishing emails work by impersonating trusted contacts or organizations, making it difficult to tell real from fake. In Susan’s case, the email appeared to come from a long-time vendor, and it was urgent enough that she didn’t question its authenticity.

Attackers often create a sense of urgency, knowing that busy professionals like Susan may need more time to scrutinize every email. Once clicked, the links in these emails can download malware, steal passwords, or lock files until a ransom is paid.

Here are a few red flags to watch out for:

  • Unexpected attachments or links: Always verify with the sender before opening.
  • Urgent or alarming language: If you’re pressured, step back.
  • Suspicious email addresses: Check the sender’s email domain carefully for misspellings or subtle changes.

Regular training on these warning signs can go a long way in preventing an attack. Educating your team to recognize phishing attempts is critical in creating a secure digital environment.

Why Basic IT Isn’t Enough

Susan immediately called her computer repair guy, Steve. She has been happy with Steve’s service because she doesn’t have many issues, and she only pays Steve when he comes in and does something. Steve doesn’t always respond quickly, but that is usually OK with Susan.

Susan leaves a message for Steve explaining how urgent this is and the reason for her call. About an hour later, Steve calls her back: “Susan, I got your message. I am in the middle of a service call right now, but as soon as I get done, I will take a look. Have you and your staff changed their passwords now? I would also change any other financial passwords you have, as they may have been similar.” With that, Steve hung up.

 

Many businesses think they’re safe if they have antivirus software or a basic IT provider in place. The truth is that cybersecurity goes far beyond the basics. While traditional IT support focuses on keeping systems running smoothly and fixing issues as they arise, cybersecurity is about protecting your systems from those issues in the first place.

Steve eventually reached back out and did some additional troubleshooting. He was reasonably sure that everything was fine now, but the real damage, which was damage to her company’s reputation with its clients and vendors, had already been done. What was missing was a proactive approach to security, one that included regular vulnerability assessments, phishing simulations, and ongoing monitoring.

How Underdog Cyber Defense Can Help

At Underdog Cyber Defense, we understand that keeping your business secure goes beyond IT support. Our approach combines traditional IT management with advanced cybersecurity practices that prevent threats like phishing from becoming a crisis. We ensure your business is protected on all fronts through vulnerability assessments, phishing simulations, and continuous monitoring.

Suppose you’re wondering where your business stands; consider scheduling a no-obligation discovery call today to see how prepared your team is. It’s a simple step that could prevent a significant disruption to your operations

 

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Carmine Corridore
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