PHISH & TELL 004

The Cybersecurity Brief for Women Who Mean Business

Author

Alexia Idoura
April 24, 2025

👋 WELCOME to Phish & Tell™️

Each week, I’ll send you a no-fluff email that helps you:

  • 💻 Protect your business from digital scams & hacks

  • 👩🏾‍💻 Learn cyber safety without needing to “speak tech”

  • 🔐 Feel confident knowing you’re locked down tight

You’re not just building a business.
You’re building something worth protecting.
Let’s make sure no one gets to mess with it.

🎣 PHISH ALERT: TOP 5 CYBERSECURITY NEWS STORIES OF THE WEEK

Small businesses are contending with several pressing cybersecurity challenges. Here are the top five:​

  1. Online Harassment Threatens Women Entrepreneurs' Digital Growth

    A new report by the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, in collaboration with Intuit and the World Bank, reveals that 57% of women entrepreneurs in low- and middle-income countries have experienced online harassment. This has led 41% to limit their digital presence, hindering business growth. In developed countries, a significant portion of women face online harassment. In Australia, 35% of women report abuse—rising to over 50% among LGBTIQ+ women and those with disabilities—primarily on social media. Similarly, 20% of women entrepreneurs in Europe and over 50% of women in the U.S. report harassment, including offensive comments, sexual messages, and physical threats, all of which harm both personal well-being and business operations.

    ✅ Why it matters: When women restrict their visibility online due to concerns about safety, it directly impedes their ability to market and grow their businesses.

    👉 What to do: Choose social media and business platforms that offer strong moderation policies and accessible reporting mechanisms. Implement multi-factor authentication, regularly update privacy settings, and monitor online presence for unauthorized use.

  2. Verizon's 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report Highlights Third-Party Risks

    The report reveals a significant increase in cyberattacks involving third-party vendors, with such breaches doubling to 30%.

    ✅ Why it matters: Your business partners and vendors being breached can affect your operations, and cyber criminals may be able to access your equipment and data through them.

    👉 What to do: Conduct regular security assessments of third-party vendors. Include cybersecurity requirements in contracts with partners and suppliers.

  3. Mastercard Flags Urgent Cybersecurity Risks Facing Global SMEs

    Mastercard's recent study indicates that nearly half of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) globally have faced cyberattacks. Common threats include hacking, malware, and phishing. Four in five believe they need a solution that keeps their business safe without requiring them to be a cybersecurity expert. (That’s the whole idea behind Security Done Easy—come check us out!)

    ✅ Why it matters: 60% of small businesses that experience a cyber attack go out of business within six months. The time, revenue, trust, and confidence lost can be debilitating.

    👉 What to do: Invest in basic cybersecurity measures. Seek out affordable cybersecurity training and resources tailored for SMEs.

  4. Government Updates Cybersecurity Code Amid Rising Threats

    The UK government has updated its cybersecurity guidance in response to increasing threats from criminal gangs and frequent cyberattacks. The revised code urges company directors to take greater responsibility for cybersecurity risks and better prepare for potential breaches. (Accountability is a global trend.)

    ✅ Why it matters: Globally, business owners are being held accountable when they don’t have adequate protections in place.

    👉 What to do: Integrate cybersecurity into your business's strategic planning. Ensure that leadership is educated and accountable for cybersecurity measures.

  5. YouTube Fraud Targeting Small Business Owners

    New research by ReasonLabs reveals a sharp rise in YouTube scams. Many scams promise business advice, tech tutorials, or investment tips, only to trick viewers into clicking malicious links or providing personal and financial information. These attacks are carefully disguised using hacked verified accounts, logos, and deepfake videos.

    ✅ Why it matters: Women entrepreneurs and solopreneurs are especially vulnerable, as scammers exploit trust and credibility in influencer content to push fake offers, malware, or phishing traps. Falling for one of these scams could lead to identity theft, data loss, or financial fraud.

    👉 What to do: If a video promises huge rewards (like crypto) or urgent actions, be skeptical—especially during livestreams or sponsored ads. Don’t trust usernames or logos alone. Check if the channel is really affiliated with the person or brand it claims to be. Avoid clicking on external links unless you trust the creator completely. Keep your YouTube and Google accounts protected with multi-factor authentication and avoid reusing passwords.

    ✅ Bonus Tip: If you’re using YouTube for your business, monitor your own channel regularly—scammers have been known to hijack accounts and run scams through them!

🔍 In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)

  • ⚠️ Scam Alert: When cybercriminals get access to your systems, the first thing they do is search email and files for “insurance” and “policy”. On average, if they find references to a cyber insurance policy, they will increase the ransom demanded by 2.3-2.8 times.

  • 🛠️ Quick Tool: Free AI experience — Have you wondered what it’s like to manage through a cybersecurity incident? Practice Staying CALM™️ in a Cyber Crisis — Before It Counts »

  • 💬 Quote of the Week: Cybersecurity needs to be seen as a business risk rather than an IT risk. — Richard Horne, chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)

  • 🫵 This week’s Security Done Easy blog post: MSPs vs MSSPs: The Affordable Cybersecurity Solution for Small Businesses »

🔐 LOCK IT DOWN

Update Your Software and Apps Regularly

Why it matters:
Outdated software is like leaving your front door open—cybercriminals can easily slip in through known security flaws. Regular updates patch these holes and keep your business tools running securely.

What to do (in under 5 minutes):

  • 🔍 Open settings on your phone, laptop, and any business apps.

  • 🔄 Look for "Software Update" or “System Update”.

  • ✅ Turn on automatic updates if available—or run the update manually.

✅ Bonus Tip: Prioritize devices you use to access customer data or banking—these are prime targets for attackers!
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🤖 The LOL-gorithm

🧷 THE SAFETY SNAP

📱 Safeguard Your Phone Number and Email from Unwanted Access

Why it matters:
Scammers and stalkers often start with just your phone number or email to launch phishing attacks, sign you up for spam, or impersonate you. Women entrepreneurs are especially vulnerable if their contact info is public for business reasons.

What to do:
🔐 Use a dedicated business number and email—keep personal contact info private.
📵 Avoid posting your number or email publicly on social media or websites unless absolutely necessary.
📨 Use contact forms on your website instead of listing direct emails.
🚫 Block and report unknown callers or messages asking for sensitive info.

✅ Bonus Tip: Set up call screening and spam filters on your phone to catch shady contacts before they reach you!

✨ WORRIED ABOUT YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS?

👉 Grab the free Social Media Lockdown Guide.

Say goodbye to the fear of waking up to a compromised account. Learn how to protect your accounts from hijackers and scammers in five steps.

💬 IN YOUR CORNER

Worries? Questions? I’m in your corner. Let me know!

👋 DM me @securitydoneeasy with your Qs
🔐 Get on the waitlist: A 90-minute live experience for women leaders who want to be ready — not reactive — in a cybersecurity incident. Coming soon.
💌 Forward this to a biz bestie who needs to stay scam-proof, too!

👂 TELL ME

You’re subscribed to Phish & Tell™️ because your business is worth protecting.
Feel safe, stay savvy, and don’t click shady sh*t. ;-)

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