How prepared is your business for the evolving threats lurking online? A new phishing tactic is making the rounds, and it’s targeting companies in a much more deceptive way than usual. Taking a moment to understand this latest method might help you avoid serious trouble down the road.

Phishing That’s Harder To Spot

In most phishing campaigns, attackers send emails that try to look legitimate and hope someone clicks a shady link. This time, they’re taking a different route.

Security experts from Check Point recently shed light on a campaign posing as a trusted U.S.-based company. Instead of relying on cold emails, these fraudsters search for abandoned domains with credible business histories. Once they take control of those domains, they look authentic enough to fool unsuspecting targets.

Rather than going through email alone, they often use website contact forms or direct messaging paths to initiate conversations. At first glance, nothing seems out of the ordinary.

A Carefully Crafted Setup

Instead of rushing to send harmful links, these attackers play the long game. They might continue a back-and-forth conversation for several weeks, slowly building trust.

Eventually, they invite the target to sign what looks like a digital non-disclosure agreement. Inside the file archive are a few documents, including a benign PDF and a DOCX file, placed to disarm suspicion. Hidden among them is a malicious file that triggers a PowerShell-based loader when opened.

Once activated, the loader installs MixShell, a backdoor malware that allows silent access to the infected system. This opens the possibility for attackers to steal data, alter files, plant more malware, or even gain full system control, all without the user realizing anything has gone wrong.

Steps Businesses Can Take Right Now

New scams like this serve as reminders that cyberattacks are growing more sophisticated. It’s easy to get caught off guard, especially when things appear legitimate on the surface. A few smart steps can go a long way in limiting exposure.

Help Your Team Spot the Risks

People are the first line of defense in any business, but human error is still a leading cause of breaches. Make it a priority to build cybersecurity awareness through practical training.

Teach your team how to spot clues like vague greetings, poor grammar, mismatched domains, and language that pushes for immediate action. Even though phishing methods have changed, some of the red flags remain the same.

Strengthen Protection with Better Tools

Many systems offer built-in defenses, but those are not always enough. Third-party antimalware platforms provide deeper protection with real-time scanning and updates that help catch evolving threats.

Look for tools that are easy to manage but strong enough to detect and isolate risks, especially those that disguise themselves within files or load silently in the background.

Add an Extra Layer with Multi-Factor Authentication

If login credentials get stolen, having MFA in place can still stop an attacker from breaking in. It adds a second step, like a code sent to a phone or a fingerprint scan, giving businesses more time to react, even if a password is compromised.

Staying One Step Ahead of the Threat

The latest phishing campaign shows how cybercriminals adapt their tactics to trick even the most alert professionals. Fighting back doesn’t mean doing everything at once, but starting with clear training, strong tools, and layered defenses can make all the difference.

Protecting your team and your data starts with steady preparation. Take the steps now that will keep your systems safe tomorrow.