Most people think of hackers in hoodies behind screens. But what if the real threat is the person on the other end of the help desk line?
A disturbing new trend is sweeping the tech world—and it’s one that every business owner in East Texas should know about. Cybercriminals aren’t just breaking in through firewalls anymore. They’re walking in the front door—through tech support.
The Risk You Didn’t See Coming
Big companies like Coinbase and major retailers have been targeted not by high-tech hacking, but by manipulating or bribing tech-support workers—often in outsourced call centers.
Here’s how it works:
- A criminal calls pretending to be a legitimate employee.
- A support worker is tricked into disabling security features like multi-factor authentication.
- Suddenly, the attacker has full access to sensitive systems or customer data.
It’s social engineering at its most dangerous—and it’s already causing real financial losses across the country.
Why Local Businesses Aren’t Immune
If it can happen to a Fortune 500 company, it can happen here in East Texas, too. Small and mid-sized businesses often:
- Use third-party or remote IT support without strict controls.
- Skip regular staff training on fraud and cyber scams.
- Assume internal systems are secure when they aren’t being actively monitored.
That’s a costly assumption in 2025.
What Castleberry Services Is Doing About It
Castleberry Services, based right here in Lufkin, is taking action to help protect local businesses.
Here’s how they do it differently:
- Local, fully trained support teams—no outsourcing.
- Tight access controls that limit what tech support can change or access.
- Real-time monitoring of IT systems and support activity.
- Employee security awareness training to spot scams before they happen.
Don’t Wait for a Crisis to Lock the Door
Your business may be running smoothly today—but it only takes one mistake to let a criminal into your systems. Castleberry Services can help you lock down your IT support process before it’s too late.
Call (936) 237-3030 or visit castleberryinc.com to schedule a free security consultation.
This article is part of a regular business technology column brought to you by Castleberry Services—helping local businesses grow smarter and more secure across Texas Forest Country and beyond.
