Quick Summary: Summer breaks often bring slower days, smaller teams, and more employees working remotely. But for cybercriminals, this is the ideal time to strike. In this blog post, we explore why phishing attacks become more common during the summer months, how attackers tailor their tactics to seasonal patterns, and the practical steps your business can take to reduce risk without disrupting anyone’s time off.
Introduction
Every summer, businesses shift into a different rhythm. Teams rotate responsibilities, inboxes fill up with autoresponders, and many employees rely on their phones to check in while traveling. It’s a necessary slowdown, but also a time when attackers quietly speed up.
Phishing scams are not just more frequent during summer months — they’re more effective. Attackers know that when routines are disrupted and coverage is thin, their emails stand a better chance of slipping through unnoticed.
That’s why now is the right time to prepare. While security software continues to play a critical role, a big part of defense during quieter months comes down to awareness, communication, and a few smart changes in how your team works.
Why Phishing Attacks Increase in the Summer
Fewer people. More pressure. Less visibility.
When employees take time off, others often step in to cover multiple roles. This means critical requests might be handled faster than usual and verification steps skipped in the process. Attackers count on this kind of pressure and uncertainty to make their phishing emails more believable.
More email. Less attention.
During summer, inboxes often fill up faster. Travel plans, project handovers, client check-ins — it all adds up. At the same time, employees are more likely to be checking email on mobile devices while on the move. Combined, these habits create a perfect storm where a fake invoice or login alert is more likely to go unnoticed.
Out-of-office replies help attackers plan
Cybercriminals use bulk emails to collect automated out-of-office responses, learning who’s away, for how long, and who to contact in their place. That’s valuable information for social engineering. If they know who’s covering what, they can craft more convincing impersonation emails.
Timing gives scams an edge
Phishing doesn’t always rely on sophisticated tech. Often, all it takes is a well-timed message during a quiet period, when routines are disrupted and attention is low. That’s why summer becomes a high season for low-effort, high-impact attacks.
What Phishing Looks Like During Summer
Attackers adapt their scams to fit the seasonal context. Here are some of the most common patterns seen during summer breaks:
Travel and booking scams
Emails that appear to come from travel providers, such as airlines, accommodation platforms, or booking services may prompt employees to log in to view itinerary changes or claim refunds. These often link to fake sites designed to capture credentials or payment information.
Fake delivery alerts and payment issues
A sudden message about a failed package delivery or a payment issue related to a recent online order can feel urgent, especially during a busy travel period. These emails usually contain malicious links that direct users to spoofed login pages or infected downloads.
Executive impersonation requests
With leadership often out of office or working remotely, attackers may impersonate them, asking for help with last-minute tasks or urgent approvals. The goal is often to prompt a quick response without the usual checks, especially if the message mimics the tone and urgency of real internal emails.
Internal HR or IT messages
Scammers sometimes pose as internal departments, sending emails that ask employees to update their contact information, review vacation policies, or access a new system while others are away. The context fits the season and that makes these messages easy to fall for.
How to Stay Protected During Summer Breaks
Phishing readiness doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need to be intentional. Here’s what your team can do to stay one step ahead.
Remind your team before holidays begin
Take the opportunity to run a quick awareness refresher before people start heading out. Focus on mobile email safety, how to verify sender information, and when not to act on “urgent” requests without second opinion.
Keep out-of-office replies generic
Avoid listing backup contacts by name or role. Instead, route external inquiries to a monitored shared inbox, like info@ or support@, so attackers don’t gain insight into team structure or availability.
Encourage verification, even during slow periods
Make it easy for employees to confirm requests, whether it’s a phone call, internal chat, or a simple forward to IT. The more normalized this behavior is, the less likely someone is to act without checking.
Tune your filters and confirm MFA is in place
Now is a good time to revisit your email filtering rules and ensure that multi-factor authentication is active for all key systems, especially those accessed remotely. This helps block the most common phishing tactics before they reach your team.
Know who’s online and keep light monitoring in place
Even a small monitoring presence makes a big difference. If your IT or security team is operating with reduced coverage, make sure responsibilities are clear and someone is regularly reviewing alerts for suspicious activity.
Conclusion
Summer is a time to slow down, reset, and recharge, but attackers don’t take time off and they know when your team does. That’s why building a bit of seasonal awareness into your security habits can make all the difference.
At EXON, we help businesses strengthen their day-to-day cyber resilience — not just with software, but through smart practices that fit how your team actually works. If you’re looking to prepare your business before the next break, we’re here to support you.