Security alert: Business Email Compromise attacks are surging • Blisstech Solutions

Email has become an essential tool for any successful business, but as the saying goes, “with great power comes great responsibility”.

As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to make sure your emails are secure. It’s one of the key ways to stop your business data falling into the wrong hands.

Business Email Compromise (or BEC) is a growing threat. And if you become a target, it could cost you – big time.

So, what exactly is a Business Email Compromise attack?

In simple terms, it’s where scammers pose as people high up in the business, like CEOs, executives, and IT staff. The goal is to trick your employees into sharing sensitive information or sending money. Research shows that nearly 90% of BEC attacks are set up this way.

It’s easy to see how someone might quickly respond without a second thought, especially when they trust the sender.

BEC attacks have spiked dramatically this year, especially over the third quarter. Researchers have analysed 1.8 billion emails worldwide, discovering a shocking 208 million malicious emails among them. And of these malicious emails, more than half (58%) were BEC attempts.

The figures make it clear: BEC scams are now the biggest email threat to businesses.

Another thing worth noting? Most BEC scams target employees lower in the business, who might be less likely to question authority or be less aware of cyber threats.

Although BEC attacks are common, it’s also important to remember that scammers still use other methods too. This includes commercial spam and phishing attacks, which are designed to trick people into sharing personal information, like login details.

In fact, the combined effect of these types of scams now overshadows traditional ransomware and malware attacks.

Luckily, it isn’t complicated or expensive to protect your business.

Make sure that all members of your team are trained to think twice about every email they receive.

If an email asks for sensitive information or a financial transaction – especially if it feels urgent – your employees should know to stop and check with someone before they action anything.

If you need help making sure your business is secure, get in touch.

← Beware that “support call” – it could be a ransomware scam Windows Hello gets improvments in security usability →

Tech Tip: How to use the Snip and Sketch tool

This is a Tech Tip on how to use the really handy Snip and Sketch Tool built into Windows. Who said that "a picture paints a thousand words"? I'll leave you to Google that one as I couldn't work it out! Anyway, there are times when an image is the best way to...

How to create secure passwords

Weak passwords are one of the biggest security risks to your business.
Why?
Because cyber criminals are getting smarter than ever before. If they manage to crack just one password, they could gain access to your sensitive business data, financial information, or even gain control of your entire system.
Cyber criminals use automated tools to guess passwords, allowing them to try out millions of combinations in seconds. So, if you’re using something like “Password123” or “CompanyName2025”, you’re practically handing them the keys to your business.
A compromised password can lead to big issues, such as:
• Data breaches
• Financial losses
• Identity theft
• Reputation damage
But how do you create strong passwords without driving yourself (and your team) mad?
Think of your password like a secret recipe, where only you should know the ingredients. It should:
• Be at least 14 characters long (the longer, the better)
• Include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters
• Contain a few numbers and symbols (like @, $, %, or &)
• Not contain any common words or easily guessable information (like birthdays, names, or the word “password”)
Instead of using a single word, you could try a passphrase – a short, random sentence that only you would understand. For example, instead of “Sailing2025”, try something like “Coffee&CloudsAreGreat9!”. This is much harder to crack, yet still easy to remember.
You should also steer clear of these common mistakes:
• Using personal info (your name, birthday, business name, etc.)
• Reusing the same passwords across multiple accounts
• Using simple sequences (“123456” or “abcdef”)
• Storing passwords in an easily accessible place (like a sticky note on your desk)
If remembering unique passwords for every account sounds impossible, there is another option: Password managers. These generate strong passwords, store them securely and autofill them for you.
With a password manager, you only need to remember one strong master password for the manager app itself. The rest are encrypted and stored safely, reducing the risk of data breaches.
Even the strongest password isn’t foolproof, which is why multi-factor authentication (MFA) is also important. MFA requires a second form of verification, like a one-time code sent to your phone or generated from an authentication app.
If you have employees accessing your business systems, it’s a good idea to have a password policy in place to explain your rules and why they’re important. This should include:
• Unique passwords for each system and account
• Regular security training on password best practices
• Business-wide use of MFA for critical systems
• Scanning for compromised passwords regularly
By making password security a priority, you can reduce the chances of a cyber attack creating a nightmare for your business.
And if you need help making your business more secure, get in touch.

Don’t Overlook Home Worker Security

Protecting Home Workers and Your Business In the current work-from-home landscape, business security strategies often overlook one crucial aspect: home office security. This oversight creates vulnerabilities that cybercriminals are actively exploiting. With more...

Uh oh! You’re at greater risk of malware than ever before

Small and medium-sized businesses are at more risk of a malware attack than ever. It’s time to take action to protect your business. Here we tell you how.

Microsoft’s fixing the biggest issues in Windows 11

Ever feel like Windows 11 is getting in the way?
Or not as smooth as it should be?
Small frustrations eat up more time than you might think.
But Microsoft’s bringing in a shift that focuses less on new features and more on fixing those everyday frustrations…

The hidden risk of unsupported software

It’s surprisingly common for businesses to rely on unsupported software. Not because anyone is careless or willing to take unnecessary risks. More often, the software has simply been in place for years. It still works. Your team knows how to use it. And replacing it...

How future proof is your business’s IT?

Your business’s tech might be working well today, but is it ready for tomorrow? A new study has found more than 60% of business leaders aren’t confident about theirs. What about yours?

Why now is a great time to start your own business

"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying." - Michael Jordan We are living in unprecedented times. People are being prevented from leaving their homes and the average worker has been sent to work from home, put on reduced hours, or worse. It is...

Zoom wants to be the new Teams

Zoom is looking for a piece of the MS Teams action with the launch of a whole suite of features and services

What’s coming in Windows 11?

Microsoft has just announced (in a typically 'West Coast' way) what's coming in Windows 11. Here is a rundown of what was announced at the event. Windows 11 Interface Design The first impression visually is that it looks kind of like Linux merged with Mac OSx. The...

More Content