Don’t Let Cybercriminals Get in the Middle of Your Business

“The email address looked almost identical, I didn’t notice the difference.”

“We’ve made similar payments before, so nothing seemed unusual.”

“I skipped our usual verification process because it felt urgent.”

Most businesses are used to spotting obvious scams involving suspicious emails, strange links, or urgent requests that don’t feel right. But evolving cyberthreats are designed to blend in completely with everyday business activity, making them much harder to catch. That’s exactly how Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks work. Instead of breaking in, attackers quietly position themselves between your employees and the systems they use—capturing information as it’s being entered.

How do Man-in-the-Middle attacks work?

It usually starts with something that looks completely normal. An employee might get a “routine” or seemingly innocent password reset email, shared document notification, or message from IT. They click the link and land on a login page that looks legitimate, but here’s what’s really happening:

• The attacker has inserted themselves between the employee and the real site
• The page they’re using acts like a middleman (or “proxy”)
• Everything the employee types, like the username, password, or security code is captured

From the employee’s perspective, nothing seems wrong, but in the background, their login details have been stolen. Once the attacker has the credentials, they can log in as that employee and get past multi-factor authentication to access email, financial tools, or internal systems, and move deeper into your business.

What are the risks to your business?

Even one compromised login can create a bigger problem for your business because attackers get into your system and act before anyone realizes there’s an issue. Here’s what can happen:

• Account takeover: Access to email, finance platforms, or internal systems
• Fraudulent payments: Attackers posing as vendors or executives
• Data exposure: Sensitive business or customer information
• Operational disruption: Losing access to systems your business relies on

How can your business reduce risk?

• Train employees to pause and verify. If something feels slightly off, don’t click. Go directly to the legitimate website or ask your IT team.
• Avoid logging in through email links. It’s safer to type the website URL into your internet browser or use a saved bookmark.
• Use secure networks. Public Wi-Fi can increase risk. Stick to secure, trusted connections when accessing business systems.
• Watch unusual activities. Things like unexpected login alerts or repeated authentication prompts can be warning signs.
• Take alerts seriously. If your bank, IT team, or software flags something unusual, act quickly—it could prevent a larger issue.

Stay one step ahead.

Man-in-the-Middle attacks are designed to go unnoticed—but that doesn’t mean your business is powerless. A simple pause, a second look, or a quick verification can make a big difference.

TruNorth Bank is looking out for your business.
We’re here to help you stay informed and protect your operations from emerging fraud threats. For more information and valuable tools to help you stay safe, visit our fraud prevention webpage, stop by your nearest office, or call Customer Care at 978.573.1300.