Why Phishing Attacks Surge in August – And How to Protect Your Business
20 Aug 2025At BlueReef Technology, we know cybercriminals don’t take holidays. In fact, while you and your team are getting back from a winter break, attackers are ramping up their efforts. Research shows phishing attempts actually spike at this time of year — and small and medium businesses across Australia are prime targets.
Why the Risk Is Higher
Attackers take advantage of seasonal events to make their scams more believable. Around this time, we see a surge in fake travel booking sites, bogus hotel confirmations, and impersonations of platforms like Airbnb. One recent study found a 55% increase in new travel-related websites compared to last year — and about 1 in 21 of them were flagged as malicious or suspicious.
It’s also the back-to-school period, which means fake university emails targeting staff and students are on the rise. Even if your business has nothing to do with education or travel, an employee checking their personal email on a work device is all it takes for an attacker to slip in.
How to Reduce the Risk
Phishing scams are getting harder to spot, especially with AI making fraudulent emails look more convincing. That’s why awareness is one of your strongest defences. Here’s how to protect your team and your business:
- Look closely at emails — Don’t just check for spelling errors. Always confirm the sender’s email address and hover over links to see where they really lead.
Check website addresses — Watch for misspellings or unusual domain endings like “.today” or “.info”, which are often used for scams.
Go direct — Instead of clicking links in emails or messages, type the website address into your browser yourself.
Use Multifactor Authentication (MFA) — Adds a second layer of protection if someone does get hold of a password.
Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive tasks — If you must use it, stick to non-sensitive browsing or use extra protection before logging into accounts.
Keep personal accounts off work devices — Mixing personal and work accounts increases the risk of accidental exposure.
Use advanced security monitoring — Tools that keep watch over your computers and devices can spot suspicious activity and block it before it spreads.
Why It Matters for Compliance and Contracts
Falling victim to a phishing scam isn’t just disruptive — it could trigger obligations under Australia’s Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme, damage your reputation, and even put government or enterprise contracts at risk. Staying on top of phishing protection also supports the Essential Eight security strategies recommended by the Australian Cyber Security Centre.
Don’t Wait Until After a Click
Phishing attempts are becoming more sophisticated every day, and AI is only making them harder to spot. The best defence is a well-trained team and the right protections in place before an incident happens.
Start the season secure — book your free Cybersecurity Assessment with BlueReef Technology today. We’ll identify your risks, close the gaps, and help keep your business safe all year round.
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