NEED TO KNOW NEWSLETTER         JANUARY 2026

Winter Watch, Safeguard Your Data in the Snowstorm of Cyber Threats

Upcoming: National Data Privacy Week – January 26 – 30, 2026

As the snow blankets the landscape and we gear up for winter adventures – whether you’re snowmobiling, skiing the slopes, or cozying up at home – it’s a great time to reflect on how we protect our digital footprints. Just like layering up for the cold, safeguarding your data requires preparation, awareness, and the right gear.

Phishing on Ice

Don’t Slip on Spoofed Emails. Phishing remains the leading cause of cyber attacks.

Business Email Compromise (BEC):  A snowmobiling buddy approaches, in familiar gear, but something’s off. In the digital world, that’s how phishing works. Don’t hand over your data without knowing who’s behind the mask.

Track the Threats

Know Your Phishing Predators. Like hunters track wildlife, be aware of the signs of phishing attacks.

Spearphishing: Targeted attacks disguised as requests from someone you know.

Whaling: Attacks aimed at executive or high-level staff. The big game. If caught, the damage is massive.

Clone Phishing: Duplicates trusted messages. Like a trail that looks familiar but leads you off course. 

Smishing: Uses SMS to trick you into clicking malicious links or sharing sensitive info.

Vishing: Uses voice calls to impersonate trusted contacts.

Winter Tips

• If an email looks suspicious, treat it like thin ice. Don’t tread on it – verify first.
• Icy trails can mislead, and so can emails that appear to come from HR or your manager. Before clicking, verify the source, like checking your beacon before heading into avalanche terrain.

Privacy Beyond the Office

Home-based Security

Whether you’re working remotely from a cabin or streaming ski videos at home, data privacy matters.

• Create strong passphrases
  
  
• Keep your software up to date

• Use multi-factor authentication (MFA)
  
  
• Be cautious with smart home devices and public Wi-Fi

• Review privacy settings on social media and apps

• Use encrypted messaging apps

• Avoid oversharing personal info online

Back up important data securely

Wrap-Up: Bundle Up Your Data

According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, data breaches exposed over 300 million sensitive records in 2025 alone. You wouldn’t head into a blizzard without gloves and goggles; don’t face the digital world without protection.

Stay informed, alert, and secure at work and at home.