Cybersecurity for business: what is phishing and methods to combat it

In the world of digital technologies, phishing is rapidly gaining momentum. The active development of e-commerce, the annual growth of social network audiences, and the lag of legislation behind the speed of IT progress create ideal conditions for attackers. And until digital security becomes a norm, there will only be more people willing to profit from human trust.

In 2025–2026, phishing remains one of the most serious cybersecurity threats. Small and medium-sized businesses are particularly vulnerable — those that don’t have an in-house IT department or don’t pay enough attention to digital security.

In this article, we explain what phishing is, how to recognize it, which schemes are most commonly used by scammers, and how to protect your business from cyberattacks.

What phishing is and how to recognize it

Phishing is a type of cyber fraud aimed at tricking a person into giving away confidential information: logins, passwords, banking data, or access to corporate email. Most often it occurs through fake emails, messages (email, SMS), or websites that look legitimate or nearly identical to real ones.

Signs of phishing may include:

• A message comes from an unknown or suspicious address.

• It contains an urgent call to action: “Your account will be blocked”, “Confirm payment”, etc.

• The link leads to a fake website that looks like the official one, or to a “payment form” that an inexperienced user may mistake for a real banking link.

• There are grammatical mistakes or strange wording.

• You are asked to enter passwords or banking details.

The most common phishing schemes in 2025

Here are 7 of the most relevant fraud schemes every entrepreneur should know to avoid data theft or damage caused by viruses installed on the owner’s or employees’ computers:

1. Fake bank emails

Fake emails imitating messages from popular banks. The email contains a link leading to a fraudulent website designed to “steal” your data.

2. Commercial phishing

Emails or messages that imitate requests/orders from suppliers or clients — with payment receipts, invoices, documents, or links to infected files. Scammers also use psychological “hooks” like promotions, gifts, or prize notifications to make a person click the link.

After landing on the fake website, the user enters personal information, not realizing they are giving it to attackers. Such links are usually spread through messengers, email, fake QR codes, or even social networks.

3. Phishing through PDF files

A PDF file attached to an email with “important information” (e.g., an “invoice” from a supplier) that contains a malicious link or virus.

4. Phishing apps

These are applications that no longer try to mimic known services but instead lure users with unrealistic promises: “iPhone for $20”, “instant crypto profit”, or “win a million”. Their goal is to gain access to your personal data or accounts.

5. Phishing through delivery services

SMS or email allegedly from a logistics service asking to “pay a customs fee”, “confirm an order”, or “confirm a delivery address”.

6. Fraudulent duplicate websites

Scammers often create nearly identical copies of well-known services (fake versions of CRM systems, online banking, or accounting platforms) and register similar-looking domains to avoid suspicion. For example, instead of Rozetka.ua, you may land on fake Rozeetka.ua. The user, without realizing it, enters personal or payment data on the fake website, giving attackers access to important information.

7. Spear phishing

A targeted attack where scammers collect information about employees of a specific company to select a victim. Then they contact them under the guise of a known person — via email, phishing link, or phone call — gaining quick and unnoticed access to internal corporate data.

How to protect yourself from phishing: tips for entrepreneurs

Prevention is the best protection. Here are simple steps to reduce risks:

• Use two-factor authentication (2FA) for all work accounts, starting with email and ending with cloud-based document signing services. This adds an extra layer of protection that prevents attackers from accessing accounts even if they steal your password.

• Use password managers (e.g., KeePass) and external storage devices (flash drives). Storing passwords on a work computer creates a risk of data leakage. It’s best to store data for all important services in an encrypted key file and additionally on flash drives kept in a secure place.

• Update passwords regularly. Do not use the same password for all services.

• Install antivirus and anti-phishing protection. Many modern programs automatically block phishing websites.

• Train your team. Explain what phishing is and conduct a short cyber hygiene course.

• Check the website address before entering login information. Legitimate websites always have secure connections (https://) and correct addresses.

• Carefully check the browser address bar before clicking a link. Even a small change — like gmeil.co instead of gmail.com — may indicate a fraudulent site. Be cautious of shortened URLs (e.g., bit.ly), as they can hide any resource.

Phishing in messengers and social networks: new threats

In 2025, attackers actively use Telegram, Viber, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram Direct for phishing. You may receive messages supposedly from “friends”, “support services”, or even “government institutions”.

Do not open links from unknown senders, even if the message comes from someone you know — their account may have been hacked.

Entrepreneurs running businesses through social networks should be especially cautious. Scammers may pose as clients, sending fake details or links to “briefs”.

What to do after a phishing attack?

If you accidentally entered your data on a suspicious website or clicked a malicious link:

1. Immediately change passwords for all important accounts.

2. Enable two-factor authentication.

3. Contact your bank — if you entered banking data, block the card.

4. Notify the support service of the platform where the breach occurred (email service or CRM).

5. Contact cybersecurity specialists for analysis.

6. Inform your team, so others don’t fall into the same trap.

Torgsoft feature: “Cloud archive” — additional protection for your data

For entrepreneurs seeking additional confidence in the security of their business, Torgsoft offers the “Data security: cloud archive” feature. This option automatically creates backup copies of your database or the program directory in Google Drive cloud storage. In case of system failure, device damage, a virus attack, or fraudulent activity, you can quickly restore information and avoid significant losses.

Key advantages of the option:

• Protection against data loss — even if the PC is completely destroyed, your database remains accessible in the cloud.

• Process automation — you choose how frequently backups are created: daily, weekly, or monthly.

• Flexible configuration — supports archiving the database, program directory, or product images, with file compression options to save space.

• Convenience and control — all copies are stored in a separate Google Drive folder, with a log of every operation.

The “Cloud archive” feature is a simple and effective cybersecurity measure for entrepreneurs who want to additionally protect their business from unpredictable situations.

Phishing is not just an “IT problem” — it’s a real threat to every business. The less attention you pay to digital security, the more you risk losing data, money, and customer trust.

Investing in cybersecurity is as important as investing in accounting, advertising, or business development. These are not expenses — they are an investment in the stability of your business.