You’re scanning your inbox and spot an important email with a Word document attached. Maybe it’s an invoice, a message from a supplier, or even a request from a colleague. You open it without thinking twice… and just like that, you’ve been scammed.

This scenario is exactly what cyber criminals are counting on. Now they’ve come up with another new way to get past even the most advanced email security filters – this time, using corrupted Microsoft Word files. 

It’s a clever and dangerous tactic.

Phishing (pronounced "fishing") is where scammers try to trick you into giving away sensitive information, like passwords or bank details. They “bait” you with an email that looks legitimate, maybe from your bank, a coworker, or a company you trust.

These emails often include attachments or links. When you open the attachment or click the link, you could be downloading malicious software (malware) or visiting a fake website designed to steal your details. 

Phishing attacks are constantly evolving, and they’re now one of the most common ways scammers break into businesses. Email security filters are usually pretty good at scanning attachments. But since corrupted files can’t be analyzed properly, the Word file is able to sneak into your inbox. 

When you open one of these corrupted files, Microsoft Word will “repair” it and show you what looks like a normal attachment. But the document will contain a malicious QR code or link that sends you to a phishing site (often a fake Microsoft 365 login page). If you enter your details, scammers could have access to your account – and potentially your entire business.  

Stealing just one employee’s login details can be enough. With access to your cloud systems, scammers could get hold of sensitive customer data, lock your team out of essential files, or even send phishing emails from your account to trick your contacts.

If this happens to you, it could be catastrophic. Your business could face financial losses, legal consequences, and a damaged reputation that could take a long time to rebuild.

Cyber attacks are getting more complicated. But you don’t need a degree in cyber security to help keep your business safe. 

The best protection is awareness and caution.

Here are some steps you can take:

Most importantly, make sure you educate yourself and your team about what phishing is, why it’s dangerous, and how to recognize the warning signs.

We help businesses like yours with this every day. If you’d like us to help you too, get in touch.

Let me ask you something: Do you lock your front door when you leave the house? 

Of course you do.

But what if you get home and find that someone left a window open? You may as well have left the door unlocked, right? 

Now think about your business. 

You’ve probably invested in good cyber security to protect it, using strong passwords, firewalls, and the latest software updates. But if your employees accidentally leave the “windows” open, all that security goes to waste. 

It’s not about blame – it’s about awareness. The truth is that your employees might be your biggest security risk, without them even realising it. 

More people are working remotely, and research shows that four out of five employees use their personal phones, tablets, or laptops for work. It makes sense. Why not use the devices they already own?

Here’s the problem: Your employees’ personal devices probably aren’t set up with the same security measures you’duse in the office. Their phones and laptops might use weak passwords, outdated software, or even be connected to unprotected Wi-Fi networks. All of this is a dream scenario for hackers.  

And here’s where it gets scary… 

Two out of five employees admit to downloading customer data onto their own devices. That’s sensitive data leaving the safety of your business, now at risk of falling into the wrong hands. 

If that’s not enough to worry you, here’s another shocker: More than 65% of employees admit they only follow cyber security rules “sometimes” or even “never”. This includes forwarding work emails to their personal accounts, using their phones as Wi-Fi hotspots, or ignoring guidelines about handling data when using AI tools. 

Passwords are another issue, with nearly half of employees using the same passwords across different work accounts. Even worse, over a third of employees use the same passwords for both their work AND personal accounts.

Imagine a hacker getting into your employee’s social media account and using the same password to get into your business systems? It’s a disaster waiting to happen. 

So, what can you do?

The key is education.  

Start by helping your team understand why cyber security is so important. Most people don’t break the rules on purpose –they just don’t realise the risks. Explain that those little habits that seem harmless (like reusing passwords or doing work on public Wi-Fi) can cause serious damage.

Create security rules that are clear, simple, and easy to follow. For example, you can tell your team to:  

Also, make sure your employees are getting regular training sessions to keep cyber security at the front of their minds, and don’t forget to celebrate good habits. If someone flags a suspicious email or comes up with a clever way to keep sensitive data safe, be sure to let everyone else on your team know.

Cyber security is everyone’s responsibility. 

By giving your employees the right tools and training, you can turn them into your first line of defence instead of your weakest link.  

If you’d like help keeping your team up to date on the latest security threats, get in touch.