Super Bowl Phishing Scams: Business Security Checklist

February 5, 2026|Microtime Computers|

Super Bowl weekend is about touchdowns, halftime shows, and cheering on our hometown pride — the New England Patriots in their matchup against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX this Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026.

But big events like this aren’t just opportunities for celebration — they’re prime opportunities for cybercriminals. According to threat reports, phishing, fake ticket offers, and malicious content targeting fans and employees spike around Super Bowl events, creating heightened risk for businesses too.

If your team is distracted by pre-game plans, remote work, travel, or celebrations, hackers know it. So here’s a practical Super Bowl cybersecurity checklist for businesses to protect against phishing scams Super Bowl weekend and beyond.

Super Bowl Cyber Threats You Should Expect

High-profile events like the Super Bowl create a perfect storm for phishing scams and other fraud tactics:

Scammers impersonating ticketing, streaming, or sports brands to steal credentials.
Fake ticket giveaways and “exclusive” promo links.
Social media phishing tied to streaming or betting.
Malicious gambling/betting domains and spoofed email domains.

Cybersecurity analysts note increased malicious gambling content and phishing activity during past Super Bowls — including spikes in domains associated with fake streams and betting sites.

Your Business Security Playbook: Super Bowl Phishing Scams Checklist

Use this checklist on Thursday and Friday before Super Bowl weekend to reduce risk and enjoy the game without Monday surprises.

1. Secure Identity (MFA + Privilege Review)

Ensure multi-factor authentication (MFA) is enabled on email, cloud apps, VPNs.
Remove unnecessary administrative privileges.
Disable inactive or temporary accounts.

2. Patch Critical Systems

Deploy pending OS and application updates.
Confirm endpoint protection is up-to-date.
Verify network devices have current firmware.

3. Email Filtering & Anti-Phishing Rules

Enable advanced filtering for suspicious attachments/links.
Configure DMARC, DKIM, SPF to reduce spoofed emails.
Set quarantine alerts for high-risk messages.

4. Staff Awareness Before Game Day

Train employees to recognize key phishing scams around the Super Bowl:

Fake ticket email links.
“Exclusive streaming access” phishing pages.
Fake betting or gambling offers.

5. Secure Remote Access

If employees work remotely or access work apps from home:

Require VPN or secure remote gateway.
Avoid personal device access to sensitive systems.
Use conditional access and risk-based policies.

6. Verify Backups Before the Weekend

Confirm recent backups completed successfully.
Test restore processes if possible.
Ensure backups are protected from tampering.

Don’t Let Unauthorized Streaming or Betting Traffic Hurt You

Employees using work networks for unauthorized Super Bowl streaming or online betting apps can expose your systems to malicious traffic and phishing links. Enforce acceptable use policies and consider:

Blocking known risky domains.
Monitoring DNS for malicious gambling/streaming sites.
Encouraging secure, non-work browsing during off hours.

This isn’t just theory — malicious gambling traffic targeting NFL fans has been shown to surge in the days and hours around the big game.

Office + Remote Work: Don’t Let Distraction Lead to Compromise

With employees off early or juggling Super Bowl plans, attackers time their campaigns accordingly. Maintain strong security controls so short breaks don’t turn into breaches.

Microtime’s Security Strength: Your Defensive Line

At Microtime, we help New England organizations stay ahead of threats — not just react to them. Our security services include:

24/7 monitoring of endpoints and networks.
Advanced email threat protection.
Identity and access security (MFA, conditional access).
DNS filtering and conditional policies.
Backup verification and incident readiness.

Schedule a security review with our experts today!

Go Pats!