Security updates

Practical, jargon-free updates on the latest threats facing small businesses on the South Coast, and the simple steps that keep you protected.

• AI will answer any question you ask it. That is the risk. (2026-08-09): Plenty of owners now use AI as a free legal, HR and tax adviser. It is genuinely useful for some of that and quietly expensive for the rest. Here is where the line sits.
• A client has asked if we have Cyber Essentials. What now? (2026-08-02): It usually turns up in a tender or an email from someone in procurement. Here is what the scheme actually involves, which version you probably need, and where applications come unstuck.
• Why telling staff off makes your security worse (2026-07-27): Punish someone for clicking a bad link and they will keep quiet about the next one. Here is what to reward instead, and what to measure.
• If your website runs WordPress, update it this week (2026-07-19): A serious WordPress flaw is already being used by attackers. Updating to the latest version shuts the door, and it takes minutes.
• The best password is no password (2026-07-12): Passkeys let your team sign in with a fingerprint, a face or a device PIN instead of a password. There is nothing to guess, nothing to phish and nothing worth stealing.
• Your staff are already using AI. Are they doing it safely? (2026-07-04): Chances are your team already leans on AI to get through the day. That is no bad thing, as long as they are not quietly handing customer data to a stranger.
• The fake AI tool problem, and how to download safely (2026-06-26): Criminals are hiding malware inside apps that pose as popular AI tools. Here is how to get the benefits of AI without letting one in.
• There is a market for stolen business logins. Stay off it. (2026-06-19): Criminals buy and sell access to small business accounts. A few simple habits keep your logins from ending up on the list.
• Five phishing red flags every employee should know (2026-06-11): Most attacks on small businesses start with a single convincing email. Here are the five warning signs to teach your whole team.
• MFA, the best £0 you'll spend on security (2026-06-03): Multi-factor authentication blocks the vast majority of account takeovers, costs nothing on most systems, and takes an afternoon to switch on.
• Invoice and QR-code scams to watch for on the South Coast (2026-05-27): Small businesses across Sussex and Hampshire keep running into the same two scams. Here is how they work and how to shut them down.