Why Phishing Attacks Spike In August

You and your employees may be getting back from vacation, but cybercriminals never take a day off. In fact, data shown in studies from vendors ProofPoint and Check Point indicate that phishing attempts actually spike in the summer months. Here’s how to stay aware and stay protected.

Why The Increased Risk?

Cybercriminals actively capitalize on seasonal activities and behavioral patterns to amplify the effectiveness of their attacks. In the summer months, travel increases significantly as employees and business leaders book vacations, take time off, and manage travel logistics online. This heightened activity provides cyberattackers with fertile ground to launch targeted scams. According to data from Check Point Research, there has been a pronounced 55% increase in the registration of new website domains connected to vacations in May 2025 compared to the prior year. Out of more than 39,000 domains created, one in every 21 was deemed potentially malicious or suspicious—a dramatic surge that directly raises the chance your employees could encounter a fraudulent website when planning or managing their trips.

Attackers commonly create fake hotel and short-term rental booking sites (such as those purporting to be from well-known brands or Airbnb), sending phishing emails that trick users into entering payment credentials or company login information. Because these fraudulent sites are professionally designed, they often mimic legitimate platforms closely enough to avoid suspicion, especially when employees are booking quickly and may not scrutinize web addresses or fine details.

It isn’t only travel that puts organizations at greater risk in late summer. The back-to-school period brings a separate wave of phishing campaigns. Cybercriminals send out convincing emails impersonating university administrators, student support services, or IT help desks, hoping to collect login credentials from students and faculty. Even if your company does not directly operate in the education sector, there’s increased risk if any team members are enrolled in courses or have family preparing for the academic year. Employees distracted by personal obligations, looking for financial aid details or course schedules, might access these emails on work computers—creating a direct path for threats to move from personal to corporate systems.

This convergence of personal and professional activities on company devices increases exposure to sophisticated phishing lures. A single misplaced click—on a travel confirmation, fake school update, or suspicious file—can unlock access to sensitive business data, open a gateway to ransomware, or compromise organizational systems. In today’s hybrid and mobile work environment, it’s essential to recognize how seasonal shifts in employee behavior expand the attack surface, and to prioritize heightened vigilance throughout these vulnerable periods.

What To Do About It

Although artificial intelligence is making cybersecurity defenses sharper and business workflows more efficient, it’s also giving cybercriminals the ability to design phishing messages that closely mimic legitimate communication. As phishing attacks become more convincing and frequent, preparation and education become your strongest shield. Regularly training yourself and your team to recognize emerging threats is essential to maintaining your organization’s security posture.

Practical strategies to prevent attacks include:

• Keep an eye out for shady e-mails. Modern phishing e-mails are often free of glaring mistakes, so traditional red flags like poor grammar or spelling are no longer reliable. Attackers now leverage AI to write clear, professional-looking messages that can easily pass as real. Always verify the sender’s e-mail address for subtle anomalies, check that display names match the purported organization, and hover over links to inspect the true web address before clicking.
• Double-check URLs. Malicious actors frequently use URLs with slight misspellings, odd characters, or uncommon domain extensions (.today, .info, .live, etc.) to trick recipients into visiting fraudulent sites. If a website address seems out of place, do not trust it—even if the website looks authentic.
• Visit websites directly. Rather than clicking links in e-mail messages or text communications, enter the intended website address into your browser manually or use a reputable search engine to locate the correct page. This greatly reduces the risk of falling victim to a well-designed imitation or redirect.
• Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA). MFA provides a critical extra layer of defense. Even if attackers manage to steal a password, they cannot access your data without an additional verification code—often provided via an app or hardware key. Implement MFA across business-critical accounts, admin tools, financial portals, and any services handling confidential data.
• Be careful with public WiFi. Public wireless networks, such as those in hotels, airports, or coffee shops, are common targets for cyber snooping. If you must access business applications or sensitive accounts over public WiFi, use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your data and prevent interception.
• Don’t access personal e-mail on company devices. Mixing personal and work responsibilities on the same device increases the likelihood of exposing business systems to threats originating from personal e-mail or messaging accounts. Maintain a clear separation between business and personal online activity to minimize cross-contamination risks.
• Ask your MSP about endpoint security. Comprehensive cybersecurity is no longer optional for organizations of any size. Tools like endpoint detection and response (EDR) software provide continuous monitoring for malware, phishing attempts, and other suspicious activity. EDR can autonomously block malicious downloads, terminate harmful processes, and alert your managed service provider (MSP) immediately—helping to contain a breach before it spreads.

By prioritizing security best practices, keeping your employees well-informed about the latest cyber threats, and leveraging modern cybersecurity technology, you can significantly reduce your organization’s risk of falling victim to phishing or other attacks. Remember: maintaining an informed and vigilant workforce is just as important as deploying sophisticated defenses. Together, proactive education and technology build a comprehensive barrier against ever-advancing cyber risks.

Phishing attempts become more sophisticated every day, and AI is only speeding that process along. Because of this, it’s essential to keep your team well-informed of the risks; knowledge is the best defense against phishing attacks. Stay informed and stay safe!

Start the season secure.