Using the SLAM method to detect spam emails helps businesses avoid phishing scams and fraudulent invoice payments.
Here is a lesson in the kind of SPAM that AI can generate. It is very well crafted and almost fooled one of our clients into sending almost $50,000 to a hacker. Here is the redacted version of the email:
Identifying Spam Emails with the SLAM Method for Business ProtectionUsing the SLAM method to detect spam emails helps businesses avoid phishing scams and fraudulent invoice payments.Using the SLAM method to detect spam emails helps businesses avoid phishing scams and fraudulent invoice payments.
Using the Slam Method
Spam emails often disguise themselves as legitimate business communication, especially when involving payments. Below is a breakdown of how to use the SLAM method to identify red flags in a suspicious email like the example provided.
S: Sender Details
Verify the sender’s email address and domain for authenticity. In this case, the sender’s domain “sequoits.com” is unusual compared to the company’s expected domain, which raises suspicion.
L: Links and Addresses
Check the email addresses mentioned for accuracy. For example, the email uses “first.last@companyname.com” which does not exist, while the real address is “first@companyname.com” This mismatch is a strong indicator of spam.
A: Attachments and Amounts
Be cautious about unexpected invoices or payment requests. The invoice number and amount ($49,130) should be cross-verified with company records before any payment is processed.
M: Message Content and Tone
Look for urgency and unusual requests. The email pressures the recipient to process an overdue payment quickly, a classic tactic used in phishing or scam emails.
By carefully analyzing these elements using the SLAM method, businesses can avoid falling victim to phishing scams and fraudulent invoice schemes.
To protect your business from phishing scams and fraudulent invoices, learn how Farmhouse Networking can strengthen your email security and payment verification processes. Contact us today at support@farmhousenetworking.com for expert solutions tailored to safeguard your company’s financial communications.
Small business team effectively protected from malware threats by implementing CIS security standards and controls.
Small and medium-sized businesses are increasingly targeted by malware attacks—one breach can devastate operations and reputation. The CIS Malware Defense standards streamline best practices so any SMB can stay secure.
Action Steps for Owners & IT
Audit technology assets and software configurations regularly.
Apply least-privilege principles and multi-factor authentication across the board.
Install and update comprehensive anti-malware solutions on every device.
Monitor networks for suspicious activity and maintain regular vulnerability scans.
Back up all business-critical data and test recovery plans.
Train employees in safe IT habits with regular, practical security workshops.
FAQs
Q: Are CIS Malware Defense standards really practical for small businesses? A: Yes, the framework scales down for SMB needs and budgets, providing prioritized, actionable steps.
Q: What if my business doesn’t have an IT department? A: Farmhouse Networking specializes in becoming the IT department for SMBs, offering hands-on help and ongoing management for CIS-standard malware defense.
How Farmhouse Networking Can Help
Farmhouse Networking ensures SMBs of every size are protected, providing managed services, expert consulting, and step-by-step implementation of CIS Malware Defense standards.
Want peace of mind? Email support@farmhousenetworking.com for a personalized solution—your first step in robust malware defense.
Small businesses rely on professional email security to protect customer and financial data from phishing and hacks.
You’re running your business, responding to client messages, when suddenly strange duplicate messages and failed delivery emails flood your inbox. This is what happened to a business owner who discovered her emails—including sensitive financial data—were silently copied to hackers for weeks without her knowledge.
For small and midsized businesses (SMBs), this type of attack can result in financial loss, leaked company secrets, and damaged relationships with clients.
What Happened in This Email Breach
Hackers guessed or stole an email password.
They set up secret rules to forward every incoming message.
Confidential information like Social Security numbers, tax data, and financial records were exposed.
Farmhouse Networking responded by:
Removing malicious rules.
Securing the account with new password protections and recovery options.
Advising the business owner on how to monitor for ongoing fraud.
Practical Steps for SMBs
SMBs aren’t too small to be targeted. In fact, they’re often prime targets. Protect your business with these key actions:
Set strong passwords and enable MFA: Critical first layer of defense.
Regularly review email rules: Look for forwarding or auto-delete actions you didn’t create.
Encrypt sensitive documents: Especially contracts, employee data, and customer details.
Train employees: Staff should recognize phishing emails before they trigger a hack.
Backup systems: Ensure backups of both email and company files are offline-protected.
Have an incident response plan: Know what to do if a breach occurs.
Questions Your Clients May Ask
“Did hackers see my information?” If emails contained contracts, billing, or sensitive attachments—possibly.
“Could this affect my payments or records?” Yes. Compromised invoices or payment requests can be used in fraud scams.
“Can clients continue to trust our company?” By demonstrating enhanced security measures and a clear recovery plan, clients can regain confidence.
How Farmhouse Networking Helps SMBs
Farmhouse Networking empowers SMBs with:
Affordable enterprise-grade email security.
24/7 monitoring for account breaches.
Employee training to reduce phishing success rates.
Scalable security solutions for growing businesses.
Your business reputation is too valuable to be left to chance. Secure your email systems and protect your clients’ trust with Farmhouse Networking. Reach out today at support@farmhousenetworking.com.
A strong data recovery plan protects businesses from data loss, downtime, and cyberattacks.
Every small and medium-sized business faces the risk of data loss—from ransomware, accidental deletions, or system failures. According to CIS Critical Security Control 11, a strong data recovery plan is essential for staying operational and protecting your reputation.
Key Action Steps for SMBs
Implement regular automated backups: Set daily schedules with both onsite and cloud solutions.
Review and test recovery plans: Don’t wait for a crisis—run annual recovery drills.
Update recovery policies as the business grows: Ensure new systems are included.
Common Client Questions
Aren’t backups enough? Not quite. You need tested recovery processes to guarantee downtime is minimal.
What if we don’t have IT staff? Partnering with an expert provider like Farmhouse Networking keeps your systems protected without you needing in-house IT.
How Farmhouse Networking Helps
We deliver reliable and cost-effective recovery strategies, handling everything from setup to ongoing monitoring, so you can focus on growth while we protect your data.
For small and midsize business owners, every minute of uptime counts. A slow or vulnerable network isn’t just frustrating—it costs productivity, damages customer trust, and drains revenue. Network Infrastructure Management, guided by CIS (Center for Internet Security) standards, is the key to keeping your technology reliable, secure, and scalable.
Practical Action Steps
Audit Your Current Network: Compare your systems to CIS-recommended controls to uncover risks.
Secure Data Flows: Implement firewalls, intrusion detection, and CIS baseline configurations.
Plan for Growth: Ensure your infrastructure supports cloud, remote work, and future expansion.
Continuous Monitoring: Use real-time alerts to prevent disruption before it happens.
Employee Awareness: Provide staff training on cybersecurity aligned with CIS best practices.
Client Q&A
“Do CIS standards apply to smaller companies?” – Absolutely; they’re designed to scale to all business sizes.
“Will I need to overhaul my whole network?” – Not necessarily. Often, a phased approach is more cost-effective.
“What if I already have an IT person?” – Farmhouse Networking’s role is to extend their expertise, not replace it.
How Farmhouse Networking Helps We align your systems with CIS benchmarks, secure your infrastructure, and monitor it constantly. That means less downtime, stronger client trust, and more bandwidth for business growth.
Call to Action Ready to protect your network and grow confidently? Email us today at support@farmhousenetworking.com to learn how Farmhouse Networking can keep your systems strong and compliant.
As a business owner, you know reputation and customer trust are everything. But cybercriminals don’t discriminate by size—small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are increasingly the targets of ransomware and data theft. CIS Critical Security Control 13 gives you a practical way to stay ahead of attackers and protect your company’s future.
Practical Action Steps for SMBs:
Enable real-time network monitoring: Know immediately if your systems are under attack.
Centralize your logs: Aggregate data to detect issues before they escalate.
Set threshold-based alerts: Don’t wait until damage is visible to respond.
Review reports regularly: Make monitoring part of monthly executive/IT reviews.
Q&A for SMBs:
“Aren’t we too small for hackers to notice?” No—SMBs are now among the most targeted because criminals assume defenses are weak.
“Do I need an in-house IT team for this?” Not necessarily—outsourced experts can cost-effectively handle monitoring for you.
How Farmhouse Networking Helps: Farmhouse Networking provides SMBs with managed network monitoring, advanced alerts, and proactive defense strategies. We scale solutions to fit your size, budget, and growth goals.
Don’t leave your business exposed. Email Farmhouse Networking today and start building stronger defenses for lasting success.
As a business owner, you likely rely on outside vendors for IT, cloud services, or financial software. But if those service providers aren’t properly managed, they can become your greatest security risk. The CIS Controls framework, specifically Control 15 (Service Provider Management), offers a roadmap to protecting your company from third-party threats.
Action Steps You Should Take Now:
Inventory Your Providers – List all third-party vendors with access to your systems and data.
Evaluate Security Practices – Review how vendors secure your data. Do they meet CIS control standards?
Define Contractual Requirements – Update contracts to include security obligations (like encryption or incident response timelines).
Develop an Exit Strategy – Ensure data can be safely transferred or destroyed when contracts end.
Common Questions Business Owners Ask:
“Why does this matter if my provider is well-known?” Even trusted vendors face breaches. CIS Controls ensure you’re not blindly relying on brand reputation.
“Is this too complicated for a small business?” No. By following a structured checklist, SMBs can apply scalable protections.
“What happens if my provider won’t comply?” That’s a red flag. It might be time to reconsider the partnership.
How Farmhouse Networking Helps: At Farmhouse Networking, we help businesses create service provider inventories, negotiate stronger contracts, and set up monitoring strategies aligned with CIS Controls. We act as your vendor management partner so you can focus on growth rather than worrying about third-party risks.
Want to secure your business through smarter Service Provider Management? Email us at support@farmhousenetworking.com to learn how we can build a safer future for your company.
A single cyber incident can halt operations, lose you money, and damage your reputation. Every small business owner should have a tested, up-to-date incident response plan for business continuity in today’s digital landscape.
Action Steps
Identify Key Systems & Vulnerabilities: Map critical assets and conduct risk assessments.
Form a Cross-functional Team: Clarify roles across IT, management, and other departments.
Draft & Document the Plan: Prepare step-by-step procedures for detection, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned.
Schedule Regular Drills: Simulate breaches and review performance; adjust where needed.
Keep Everything Updated: Revise often to reflect new threats and internal changes.
Q&A
Q: What is the biggest challenge? A: Ensuring clear communication and rapid response across departments.
Q: What if something changes in our business? A: Update the plan and retrain your team right away.
How Farmhouse Networking Helps
Farmhouse Networking streamlines every step—custom planning, team training, tabletop exercises, and ongoing consults to keep your business secure.
Small and midsize businesses (SMBs) face the same cyber risks as big enterprises—sometimes more. One breach can threaten your business. Penetration testing is proactive protection that keeps you ahead of cybercriminals and in step with regulations.
Practical Action Steps:
Conduct a cybersecurity review of your business systems.
Schedule monthly or at least semi-annual penetration tests to find and fix weaknesses.
Educate employees on safe online behavior.
Maintain records to meet regulatory requirements such as PCI DSS or state privacy laws.
Common Client Q&A: Q: Isn’t our firewall enough? A: No; penetration testing simulates real attacks to discover deeper vulnerabilities.
Q: Are tests only for big companies? A: No; many regulations require SMBs to perform regular risk assessments and penetration testing.
How Farmhouse Networking Helps: We tailor penetration testing to your industry and provide step-by-step guidance—so your business stays protected and compliant.
Take control of your cybersecurity. Email Farmhouse Networking for more information on securing your business.
Whether expanding office space or adding new locations, your business needs a strong, flexible IT setup to keep operations running smoothly. Here’s what every business owner should do.
Practical Steps:
Increase Computing Capacity: Upgrade systems so they can handle more customers, data, and applications without slowing down.
Secure Network Connections: Keep all offices and remote employees safely connected with secure networks.
Implement Collaboration Software: Choose tools that help your teams communicate and work together seamlessly, wherever they are.
Common Client Questions:
How do we keep data secure across multiple sites? Through encrypted connections and reliable security measures like firewalls, VPNs, and antivirus software.
Will adding more users slow down our systems? Proper upgrades and scalable solutions prevent slowdowns and keep efficiency high.
What collaboration tools work best? Simple, widely used platforms offer shared calendars, instant messaging, and file-sharing apps like Microsoft Office 365.
How Farmhouse Networking Can Help:
We help SMBs upgrade IT infrastructure affordably and efficiently, ensuring fast performance, strong security, and smooth collaboration no matter how fast you grow.
Ready to scale your business IT confidently? Email support@farmhousenetworking.com for a free consultation today.
And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. - 2 Corinthians 9:8-10
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