October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Here’s what cybercriminals hope you’ll ignore

Every October, organizations take a closer look at their cybersecurity posture. It’s a chance to educate employees, revisit policies, and strengthen defenses.

It’s also an opportunity to reinforce a culture of accountability; reminding every team member, from leadership to frontline staff, that cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue. It’s a business risk, a customer trust issue, and a critical part of your organization’s long-term resilience.

But while businesses are reflecting, cybercriminals are betting on your blind spots. They’re hoping that behind all the awareness, there’s still a window left open; a vulnerability overlooked, an alert missed, or a mindset that says, “It won’t happen to us.”

They know October comes with checklists and compliance reminders. What they’re counting on is that it won’t come with meaningful change.

Here’s what they’re hoping you’ll ignore, and how to prove them wrong.

1. Weak Password Habits

Cybercriminals are hoping your passwords are being reused, outdated, or shared across teams.

Attackers continue to rely on credential-based access because it works. A reused password gives them a free pass into your systems, especially if MFA isn’t enabled. And once they’re in, they can move laterally with minimal resistance.

How to shut it down:
– Require strong, unique passwords and enable MFA for all users
– Audit and remove stale accounts
– Deploy a password manager to reduce reuse

81% of hacking-related breaches involve stolen or weak passwords (Source: Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 2024).

2. False Sense of Security from Tools Alone

Cybercriminals know that security tools are rarely tested in real-world scenarios.

Many organizations invest in firewalls, EDR, and backup systems. But these tools alone aren’t enough. Attackers are betting you haven’t patched in time, misconfigured a system, or assumed “we’re protected” because something expensive was installed.

How to shut it down:
– Schedule vulnerability assessments at least twice per year
– Patch software within 30 days of release
– Review system configurations with internal or external partners

3. Quiet Weekends and Off-Hours

Cybercriminals love to strike when no one is watching.

Ransomware groups often launch attacks late Friday night or over a holiday weekend. They count on your IT team being offline, your alerting incomplete, or your logs unreviewed. These timeframes allow attackers to do maximum damage before anyone notices.

How to shut it down:
– Test your detection and alerting during off-hours
– Ensure someone is responsible for weekend coverage
– Run a “what if it happened Friday at 6 PM” tabletop exercise

4. The “We’re Too Small” Assumption

Cybercriminals don’t target someone. They target anyone. Sze doesn’t matter – access does.

Automated scans and phishing campaigns don’t target prestige, they look for opportunity. SMBs are often targeted not just directly, but as entry points into larger supply chains. Attackers know smaller orgs may lack the resources for in-depth testing, monitoring, or training.

How to shut it down:
– Assume your organization is a target and plan accordingly
– Talk to your MSP about what’s being done proactively
– Get an independent risk assessment. Many are quick and cost-effective

43% of cyberattacks target small and medium-sized businesses.

Final Word: Awareness is Good, but Action is Better

Cybersecurity Awareness Month shines a spotlight on the importance of good cyber hygiene. But awareness alone won’t protect you.

What criminals are hoping this month is that you’ll talk about security, but not test it. That you’ll raise awareness but not enforce policies. That you’ll assume “someone else is handling it.”

Instead, use October to prove them wrong:
– Test what’s working, and what isn’t
– Close the gaps they’re hoping you haven’t noticed
– Make security a habit, not a one-month headline