Most cyberattacks don’t start with sophisticated hacking tools.
They start with a simple email.
A message arrives appearing to be from Microsoft, FedEx, your bank, a vendor, or even a co-worker. It looks legitimate. The branding is correct. The grammar is flawless. The request seems reasonable.
Then someone clicks.
Unfortunately, that’s often all it takes.
This Week’s Tech Tip
Phishing emails are designed to trick you into:
✅ Revealing usernames and passwords
✅ Entering sensitive business information
✅ Approving fraudulent payments
✅ Downloading malicious software
✅ Giving hackers access to your systems
The challenge today is that many phishing emails don’t contain the obvious clues they used to. Criminals are increasingly using AI and other tools to create messages that look incredibly realistic.
How to Identify a Suspicious Email
Before clicking a link or opening an attachment, ask yourself:
✅ Was I expecting this email?
✅ Does the sender’s email address exactly match the organization they claim to represent?
✅ Is there an unusual sense of urgency?
✅ Is someone asking me to change banking information, purchase gift cards, or send money?
✅ Can I verify the request through a phone call or separate communication method?
One of the safest habits you can develop is to avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails. Instead, open your browser and go directly to the company’s website yourself.
Remember: Trust, But Verify
One of the most successful scams we see today involves emails that appear to come from executives, vendors, or trusted business partners. The message may request a wire transfer, payment change, or sensitive information and at first glance, nothing seems unusual.
Taking a minute to verify a request can prevent thousands of dollars in losses and countless hours of recovery.
At Hammett Technologies, LLC, we help businesses strengthen their defenses with cybersecurity assessments, email security solutions, employee security awareness training, and Microsoft 365 security controls.
If you’d like help evaluating how vulnerable your organization may be to phishing attacks, give us a call at 443-216-9999 or visit www.hammett-tech.com.
Best,
Charles Hammett
Hammett Technologies, LLC
📞 443-216-9999
🌐 www.hammett-tech.com
P.S. Your security is often only as strong as the last email someone clicked. A little awareness can go a long way toward preventing a costly cybersecurity incident.