Smooth Talkers & Scotch Ale: Don’t Fall for the Phishing Trap
Welcome to Brews & Cyber Threats
In this new blog series from Info Advantage, we’re pairing five of today’s most dangerous cyber risks with five expertly crafted brews from Rohrbach Brewing Company here in Rochester. It’s a flavorful way to learn how to protect your business from the digital dangers lurking in your inbox, networks, and cloud platforms.
We’re kicking things off with one of the most common—and costly—cyber threats out there: phishing and social engineering.
Phishing & Social Engineering
Phishing attacks are fraudulent emails or messages designed to trick your team into taking an action, such as:
Clicking a malicious link
Downloading a dangerous attachment
Entering login credentials into a fake site
They work by playing on emotion, urgency, and trust. The message might look like it’s from a known vendor, a government agency, or even you. It may warn of a past-due invoice, an account suspension, or an urgent password reset.
For small businesses, phishing is especially dangerous because:
There is often less cybersecurity training compared to larger organizations
One mistake by one employee can lead to a full-blown breach
Many phishing attacks now use AI-generated text and deepfakes to appear more realistic
According to the FBI, phishing was the number one reported cybercrime in 2023, and it is only getting more sophisticated.
Info Advantage’s Advice: How to Avoid Getting Hooked
Don’t let a phishing attack catch your business off guard. We recommend:
Security Awareness Training – Educate employees on how to recognize and report suspicious messages
Email Filtering & Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Block common phishing tactics and require more than just a password
Simulated Phishing Tests – Run regular “fake” phishing campaigns to reinforce training
Incident Response Plan – Have a clear playbook ready if someone clicks the wrong thing
Need help setting this up? Info Advantage can create and manage all of the above for your business.
Rohrbach Scotch Ale: Deceptively Smooth
Rich, malty, and deceptively smooth, Rohrbach’s Scotch Ale is a Rochester favorite. At first sip, it’s inviting and warm—just like a friendly email from someone you think you know. But, much like phishing, it delivers a punch you weren’t expecting.
This pairing works because both phishing attacks and Scotch Ale present themselves as something they’re not. You let your guard down, and the consequences hit hard.
Lesson: If it seems too smooth to be true, slow down and look closer.
Don’t Get Hooked—Get Ahead
Phishing might be subtle, but the damage it causes is anything but. Fortunately, awareness and the right tools can stop these scams in their tracks.
Would your team fall for a phishing attack? Book your free consultation with Info Advantage to evaluate your current risk and better protect your business and employees.
Next Week: Ransomware & Space Kitty
Next up in our Brews & Cyber Threats series: a bold IPA and an even bolder threat—ransomware.
Our Cybersecurity & Craft Beer Tasting Event is coming this October at Rohrbach Brewing Company. We’ll be sampling the beers from this series, talking security strategy, and raising a glass to safer business.
