With minutes left in the holiday buying season, online shopping and gift-giving are at the top of many people's to-do lists. But before you hit the "buy" button, it is important to remember that this time of year is also the highest time for cybercriminals. Cybercriminals often increase their efforts during the traditional Christmas holidays and often take advantage of the flood of ‘new’ online shoppers and the general chaos of this buying time of year.
Do not let cybercriminals steal your holiday cheer and ruin your Holiday and New Year celebrations. Please follow our simple steps to protect yourself and your personal information while shopping online, completing work tasks, or simply browsing the web. It is common for scammers to lure people in with fake deals and offers during the holiday season. They may promise deep discounts on popular items or claim to have limited-time offers that are too good to pass up.[1] As we have stated many times: “Caveat Emptor - Let the Buyer Beware.”
They may also create fake websites or emails that look like they are from legitimate companies to trick people into giving them sensitive information, such as credit card numbers or bank account information.
Here are some tips to help you be more cautious and do your research before making any purchases or providing personal information:
- Always check the URL of the website you're visiting. If it starts with "HTTPS," the site uses encryption to protect your data.
- Be on the lookout for spelling mistakes in the text or website name. These are often signs that something sketchy is going on. English may not be their native language and errors are easy to see.
- Remember that phishing and other scams tend to increase around Black Friday and the Christmas holidays. Only visit websites that you trust.
- Do not assume that your personal or corporate email is immune to scams. Your junk folder may contain emails with dangerous links, and so might your inbox.
- One of the easiest ways for cybercriminals to access your online accounts is by guessing your password. To protect yourself, it is important to use a strong and unique password for every online account you have. Consider changing your passwords for the holiday season.
Hackers do not care about who you are or what you do. They are only interested in stealing and taking advantage of any weakness they can find. That is why it is very important to be cautious when opening emails, especially at work. If you receive a message from someone you do not know, or if you are not expecting a delivery from the sender of an email, be sure to carefully inspect the message before clicking any links. If in doubt, contact your IT department for guidance. This is important for texts too. Do not click on links stating that a delivery has been delayed, etc.
As you enjoy the holiday season, do not let your guard down when it comes to cybersecurity. Follow your usual threat protection methods to keep yourself and your loved ones safe online. This means using multifactor authentication, creating strong passwords, and ensuring that your antivirus software and DNS security service are up-to-date. If you are using your company's WiFi network, make sure your employer is taking the necessary precautions to protect employees. You can also use a web filter to protect your personal WiFi network.
“Semper vigilans,” Stay vigilant and keep an eye on your credit card statements to ensure that your information hasn't been stolen. Remember that phishing attacks can come in many forms, including emails, websites, social media messages, texts, and even calls or QR codes.
Red Sky Alliance is a Cyber Threat Analysis and Intelligence Service organization. For questions, comments or assistance, please contact the office directly at 1-844-492-7225, or feedback@wapacklabs.com
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[1] https://thehackernews.com/2022/12/keep-your-grinch-at-bay-heres-how-to.html
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