Why SMBs Are Still Easy Targets: A Criminal Operation That Proves It

The latest case linked to the Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters collective—particularly the identification of one of its admins known as "Rey"—highlights something we at TecnetOne witness daily: small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) remain one of the most attractive targets for criminal groups. Not because they have less to steal, but because breaking in is far easier.

When you take a closer look at how this group operated, you understand why so many Mexican SMBs keep falling victim to ransomware, data theft, and extortion. No sophisticated hacker tools are needed—just a phone call, a weak password, or an untrained employee.

This case is a powerful reminder that the issue isn’t a lack of technology—it’s a lack of preparation.

Social Engineering: The Door Most SMBs Leave Wide Open

In many businesses, cybersecurity means nothing more than antivirus software and a “kind of strong” password. And that’s enough for a basic cybercriminal to do serious damage.

Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters didn’t rely on advanced vulnerability exploitation. Their strategy was much simpler—and more effective:

1. They posed as IT staff on calls.
   
   
2. Tricked employees into installing software.
   
   
3. Asked for credentials “to fix an urgent issue.”
   
   
4. Requested remote access disguised as tech support.

That’s the reality. SMBs don’t fall because hackers are geniuses—they fall because their staff lack the tools to spot a scam.

With no cybersecurity culture, a single human mistake can expose everything: admin systems, email, clients, finances, and internal data.

Insider Threats: The Risk No One Wants to Talk About

One alarming trend revealed by this case is the deliberate recruitment of insiders. Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters offered money to employees in exchange for:

1. Admin credentials
   
   
2. VPN access
   
   
3. Corporate system keys
   
   
4. Internal process info

And the uncomfortable truth is that many Mexican businesses lack real safeguards against this:

1. Employees have privileges they don’t need
   
   
2. Accounts are never deactivated
   
   
3. Access is shared across departments
   
   
4. There’s no proper audit or supervision

In a country with high job turnover and financial pressure, cybercriminals know finding a willing insider isn’t hard. If you don’t secure your internal access, you become an easy target.

Learn more: Guide to Choosing the Ideal SOC for Your Business

Ransomware-as-a-Service: Now Anyone Can Attack You

What makes SMBs vulnerable today is how cybercrime has professionalized. No coding skills or infrastructure needed.

The RaaS (Ransomware-as-a-Service) model changed everything:

1. Criminals buy a ready-made “kit.”
   
   
2. Choose their targets.
   
   
3. The software does the rest: infiltration, encryption, theft, extortion.

This lets hundreds of new groups launch every year—each capable of impacting thousands of small businesses at once.

In Mexico, attackers know what to look for: outdated equipment, unpatched systems, untrained users, weak access, and lack of backups.

It’s not about massive paydays—it’s about attacking 20 or 50 SMBs and collecting small but consistent ransoms.

Public Extortion: The Weapon That Destroys Reputation

Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters used a cruel yet effective tactic: posting stolen data on leak sites to pressure victims into paying.

For an SMB, the impact is brutal:

1. Immediate loss of customer trust
   
   
2. Clients turning to competitors
   
   
3. Nearly unrecoverable reputational damage
   
   
4. Legal risks for exposing personal data
   
   
5. Financial collapse

The worst part? Most SMBs don’t have:

1. Encryption policies
   
   
2. Data segmentation
   
   
3. Controls to prevent sensitive files from leaking

If your data is leaked because one employee was tricked, the damage can be more destructive than a fire in your office.

The Mistake That Exposed the Criminals—and the Lesson for You

“Rey,” the admin of the group, wasn’t caught by cutting-edge surveillance or AI.

He was arrested due to simple mistakes:

1. Reused passwords
   
   
2. Digital fingerprints on public platforms
   
   
3. Messages linking identities
   
   
4. Poor operational hygiene

The takeaway? If even major cybercriminals make these mistakes, average companies have zero room for error.

You’re not at risk because hackers are brilliant—you're at risk because you're unprepared.

Similar titles: Cybersecurity in 2025: How It Affects Your Organization

The Real Problem: An SMB Ecosystem Without Processes or Training

This case confirms something we repeat constantly at TecnetOne:

SMBs aren’t vulnerable due to a lack of budget—but because of a lack of strategy.

The most common issues:

1. No staff training.
   If your team can’t recognize a trap, no tech will save you.
   
2. No internal policies.
   No one knows what to do when something strange happens.
   
3. Open, unmonitored access.
   Shared accounts, excessive permissions, inactive users.
   
4. Nonexistent backups.
   Companies think they have backups—until they don’t.
   
5. Outdated systems.
   Old tech is an open door for automated attacks.
   
   
6. No incident response plan.
   When an attack happens, no one knows who to call or what steps to take.

These are not problems solved by antivirus software. They’re solved by building a security culture.

What This Criminal Operation Teaches You as an SMB

If you’re a business owner, executive, or security lead at an SMB, here’s the message:

Your company can be attacked any day—even by a teenager on the other side of the world.

But here’s the hopeful truth:

Your defense is within reach.

You don’t need millions of pesos or complex tech. You need to:

1. Train your team
   
   
2. Strengthen access controls
   
   
3. Establish clear processes
   
   
4. Secure your backups
   
   
5. Audit all permissions
   
   
6. Apply basic cybersecurity measures

Cybersecurity is no longer a luxury. It’s a requirement for staying in business.

At TecnetOne, we help SMBs understand this—before it’s too late.