If you’re in the cybercrime business, you’re probably having a good day because business has been booming of late – and not just because hackers and their threats are getting smarter. It’s also because some of you are basically rolling out the red carpet for them, basically handing out maps to your systems along with an amuse-bouche and a glass of champagne when they walk through the door. If you’re a business owner in Baltimore, IT support and managed IT services have never been more important to safeguard against these growing threats.
We’re not naming names, but if your idea of cyber hygiene involves reusing “password123,” clicking every email marked “URGENT,” and confidently skipping every software update since 2020… Well, let’s just say you’re doing your part to support the thriving cybercrime industry. Thanks for all your efforts, we guess?
The stats don’t lie: according to the FBI, 2024 saw a 33% increase in losses from 2024 due to internet crime, with the total figure for the year exceeding $16 billion. Like we said earlier – booming.
If you’ve ever wondered, “How on Earth are these cybercriminals pulling it off?” The answer might be closer to home than you’d like to admit. Because while hackers are definitely getting more sophisticated, they’re also getting a lot of help – often from the very businesses crying foul after an attack.
So today, we’re holding those helpful hands to account. From sloppy passwords to skipped patches, here are the everyday habits quietly fueling the cybercrime boom and what you should be doing instead.
Exhibit A: Passwords That Practically Invite Trouble
Let’s start with a classic: the humble password. Or, more accurately, “password123.”
If your password is easy to remember, easy to guess, and used across multiple accounts, congratulations! You’re not just making life easier for yourself; you’re making it easier for cybercriminals too. In Baltimore, small businesses are particularly vulnerable to this mistake. That’s where trusted Baltimore IT support providers can help.
Reusing the same password everywhere? That’s basically offering hackers an all-access pass. Bonus points if it includes your pet’s name, your birth year, or the word “admin.” And if you’re storing all your credentials in a document called “Passwords.xlsx” right on your desktop, well… the prosecution rests.
The truth is, cybercriminals don’t need to be geniuses. They just need you to be predictable. And guess what? Most people are. A 2023 report by Keeper Security found that 75% of respondents used dangerously weak password practices. That’s why password-related breaches remain one of the most common ways attackers get in.
What you should be doing instead:
- Create strong, unique passwords for every account.
- Use a password manager (and no, Excel doesn’t count).
- Don’t share logins across teams.
- And seriously — stop using “123456.”
Exhibit B: Clicking Like It’s a Sport
Although they are getting better at disguising themselves, phishing emails aren’t exactly renowned for their subtlety.
You’d think an email from ‘it-support@totallylegit.ru’ with the subject line “URGENT: ACCOUNT WILL BE TERMINATED” might raise a few eyebrows. But no – someone always clicks. Maybe even download the attachment labelled “Invoice_FINAL_V2.exe” just to be sure.
Let’s be honest: if clicking suspicious links were an Olympic event, some of you would be up on the podium with your medal between your teeth. Phishing is one of the oldest tricks in the cyber book, yet it still works like a charm because we keep treating every email like it’s urgent, important, and 100% legit.
Cybercriminals don’t need advanced tools when curiosity (and a little panic) gets them in the door.
What you should be doing instead:
- Slow down and read carefully before you click.
- Hover over links to preview where they really go.
- Don’t download attachments from unknown sources, no matter how official they look.
- And train your team to spot the red flags. (Yes, “URGENT!!!” is one of them.)
Exhibit C: The Great Update Avoidance Act
Ah, software updates – those pesky little pop-ups that appear just when you’re about to do something important, like open 47 browser tabs or ignore your inbox for an hour. However, this procrastination can put your business at risk. For companies in Baltimore, partnering with a managed IT services provider ensures timely software updates and protection.
And what do we do when they appear? Click “Remind me later,” of course. Then again. And again. And again. Because nothing says “security first” like running unpatched software from the previous decade.
The logic seems to be, if it’s still working, why fix it? Here’s why: because those updates don’t just add new emojis. They patch the very vulnerabilities cybercriminals are actively exploiting. This article from IT provider VBS IT highlights just how costly it can be to ignore updates.
For attackers, outdated systems are a gift. No brute force needed, just stroll right in and help yourself to whatever’s lying around. And when it all goes wrong? Blame IT, obviously.
What you should be doing instead:
- Install updates as soon as they’re available.
- Apply security patches regularly across all devices and systems.
- Use a Baltimore IT support provider (hello) to keep updates automatic and consistent.
- And remember: “Remind me later” is not a long-term strategy.
Exhibit D: Disabling MFA for Maximum Convenience (and Risk)
Passwords are already a pain, so why make logging in even harder by adding a second step? That’s the logic, right? However, Baltimore IT support companies highly recommend Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) as a vital step in strengthening your defense against cybercriminals.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) might be one of the easiest ways to stop cybercriminals in their tracks, but for some, it’s just one push notification too far. Who has the time to approve a login when there’s a spreadsheet waiting to be opened?
And sure, that might be your email, your cloud storage, or your payroll system. But if the password’s “secure,” what’s the worst that could happen?
(Spoiler: quite a lot.)
Disabling MFA doesn’t make you efficient. It makes you vulnerable. Like, extremely vulnerable. Cybercriminals love it when they only have to break through one (probably weak) layer of defense. You’re basically holding the door for them.
What you should be doing instead:
- Enable MFA on every system that supports it.
- Use app-based authentication over SMS for added security.
- Make it standard for all users – not just the ones you think are important.
- And don’t whine. It takes two seconds and could save you a fortune.
Exhibit E: Public Wi-Fi, Private Disaster
There’s something comforting about a latte, a laptop, and a bit of free Wi-Fi. It feels productive. Sophisticated. Elegant, even.
Also: extremely risky.
Logging into business systems from a public network with no VPN is the cyber equivalent of discussing your deepest secrets on speakerphone in a crowded elevator. You might not think anyone’s listening, but someone always is.
Cybercriminals love public Wi-Fi. It’s like a buffet of unencrypted data served up by people who just wanted to “get a bit of work done” between meetings or “fire off some emails” on their lunch break. Bank details, login credentials, access to your entire cloud environment – all for the low, low price of an iced matcha.
What you should be doing instead:
- Avoid logging into sensitive systems on public Wi-Fi.
- Use a VPN if you have to connect while out and about.
- Disable automatic Wi-Fi connections on your devices.
- And maybe wait until you’re back in a secure environment before doing payroll.
Exhibit F: The “Too Small to Hack” Delusion
Ah yes, the classic small business defense:
“Why would anyone target us? We’re not that interesting.”
Unfortunately, small businesses in Baltimore are often seen as easy targets. Managed IT services in Baltimore can protect against this mindset by implementing the right cybersecurity measures.
Cybercriminals don’t care how interesting you are, only how easy you are. And if your business is running outdated systems, reusing passwords, skipping backups, and clicking every link with a sense of urgency and optimism… then congratulations: you’re exactly the kind of low-effort, high-reward target they’re after.
In fact, small businesses are more likely to be attacked because they’re less protected. No dedicated IT team. No cybersecurity training. No recovery plan. It’s like leaving your bike unlocked in a neighborhood full of thieves and assuming no one will notice because it’s “not a fancy one.”
What you should be doing instead:
- Accept that every business, no matter the size, is a potential target.
- Prioritize basic cyber hygiene, even if you don’t have a big IT budget.
- Invest in a security strategy that fits your size and your risk.
- And stop thinking invisibility is a security tool. It’s not.
Helping Cybercrime Is a Bad Business Strategy
While we’ve had a bit of fun walking through the many ways small businesses unknowingly boost the cybercrime economy, the reality isn’t all that funny. It hits even harder when it’s closer to home, with Maryland residents reporting $221.5 million in losses due to cybercrimes across 2023.
The phishing clicks, the bad passwords, the skipped updates – they’re not just little mistakes. They’re the reason cybercrime is thriving. And while no one’s suggesting you’re doing it on purpose, the outcome’s the same either way.
So if you’ve recognized a few of your own habits in this list, now’s the time to fix them. Not after the breach. Not when your data’s gone. Now.
At Trusted Technology Partners, we help small businesses in Baltimore and throughout Maryland clean up their cyber hygiene, close the gaps, and stop handing out VIP passes to their networks. Because cybercrime doesn’t need your help, and your business deserves better than being the easiest target on the block.
Get in touch with us today about tightening up your cybersecurity and putting a stop to all the help you’re offering cybercriminals.
