The holiday season is upon us. After the turkey has been carved and the last touchdown pass is thrown, everyone’s focus immediately shifts to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. They are on the hunt for the best deals and quickest shipping times.
With the increase of e-commerce options, standing outside long lines and fighting over Tickle Me Elmo dolls are a thing of the past. The pandemic accelerated this impact, with most e-commerce retailers reporting record sales over the last few years.
An unfortunate reality that accompanies this ecommerce shift is that cybercriminals are priming themselves for the holiday season too. They take advantage of the disorder and chaos that the season comes along with to target shoppers and businesses. Both groups should make themselves aware of the dangers lurking behind webpages this season and take preventive measures to ensure opportunities hackers don’t ruin the holidays.
Here are some things to keep in mind this holiday season:
1. Be on the Look Out for Security Updates and Patches
Many large retailers rely on third-party vendors to provide the IT infrastructure for their e-commerce business. They often employ teams of Information Security professionals who are prepared to handle potential risks as they happen with protocols in place for implementing software patches.
It helps eliminate vulnerabilities because tech staff can respond to alerts quickly since their focus is entirely dedicated to security and maintenance.
Small businesses often manage the infrastructure of their IT environments on their own, which means that they must dispatch information about security updates on their own. The absence of dedicated IT staff can result in these alerts being overlooked or missed entirely.
The holiday season brings new information about cyber threats and new patches to be filled by vigilant security staff. Be careful of the websites you trust with your personal information.
2. Beware of Scam Websites and Phishing Emails
Big name companies are commonly the victim of brand impersonation, with DHL being the third-most impersonated brand in phishing emails. Retailers like FedEx and UPS have warned of similar scams that occur more frequently during the holiday season.
The more common format for these types of scams begins with the attack claiming that there is a problem for the target to rectify in delivering a package. They are then directed to a malicious link where their personal information is requested and then stolen. Phishing emails target personal and work devices because employees often use both devices to check both types of email.
Phishing emails are a popular method for cybercriminals because the links and files they share can be used infect other devices on your network. They also allow hackers to gain access to users’ personal information like usernames and passwords which can be used to break into other accounts. These incidences occur more often during the holidays because people are too busy and stressed to take the extra second to confirm information.
3. Protect Against Human Error
Tis the season for reinforcing responsible cybersecurity practices. Now is the perfect time to remind your employees about the best cybersecurity practices, especially as they’re surfing the Internet for gifts. One easy way for businesses to improve the health of their IT infrastructure is to conduct phishing simulation training. It improves employees’ awareness of common malicious attacks and changing behaviors that can leave a business vulnerable to cyberthreats.
Human error is ultimately responsible for 95% of all cybersecurity events. Forming strong cybersecurity habits throughout your organizations allows your IT infrastructure to work optimally, people included. If any employee is victim to a phishing attack or becomes aware of any other security vulnerabilities, they should have the knowledge and training to begin procedures to close the breach. IT Support teams should be notified so they can determine the larger course of action needed.
Having an incident response plan ensures that all employees know and understand what responsibilities they have during an incident. Take the time to review this plan before your employees leave for their time off. There should be specific personnel responsible for monitoring alerts throughout the year, but especially during times when business is slow or when many employees are expected to be away.
Keeping Cyber Security in Mind During the Holidays
The holidays should be a time spent with family and friends, not worrying about cybercriminals. Being proactive about cybersecurity saves you the trouble of having to pay to recover data should the worst happen. While millions of Americans are online shopping for the best gifts, hackers are planning to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers by exploiting the weaknesses within your devices and your users.
Online shopping is a fantastic tool, and like all technology, is one we should use responsibly. Don’t let hackers ruin Christmas. Awareness is the best defense against tricks and scams. Start the holidays right by making sure you and your employees are safe.
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