While the holiday season is a time for celebration, it also marks a peak period for cyber threats. Cybercriminals exploit the festive distractions, leading to a surge in cyberattacks.
Strengthening cybersecurity measures during this period is crucial to safeguarding sensitive information.
Why attacks soar during the holidays?
Cyberattacks can occur at any time of the year but tend to surge significantly during the holiday season. One key reason is that people are generally more relaxed and distracted during this time of year, whether caught up in the festive spirit or rushing to complete their holiday shopping.
Additionally, many people blur the lines between personal and professional device usage during the holidays, using work devices for personal tasks and vice versa, which can expose sensitive data to greater risks.
How to change that?
Here are 10 cybersecurity tips that can keep your holiday season merry and bright:
1. Enhance employee cybersecurity awareness
Employees are the first line of defense against cyber threats. During the holidays, distractions can lead to lapses in judgment.
Conducting regular training sessions to educate staff about recognizing phishing attempts, the importance of strong passwords, and safe internet practices is key to increasing cyber security.
A study by 1Password revealed that 45% of employees become distracted during the holiday season, increasing the risk of security breaches.
2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two or more verification factors to access accounts. This reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access, even if passwords are compromised.
Implementing MFA across all company accounts to enhance security.
According to Microsoft, MFA can prevent 99.9% of account hacks.
3. Beware of phishing
Phishing attacks often increase during the holiday season, with cybercriminals sending fraudulent emails or messages disguised as legitimate communications.
Research done by Comcast business indicates that phishing is the starting point for 80-95% of all cyberattacks, highlighting its effectiveness for bad actors.
Encourage employees to scrutinize email addresses, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and report any dubious communications.
According to MUO research, phishing attacks increase by 35% during the holiday season, and many mimic trusted brands.
4. Lower the risks of ransomware attacks
Ransomware attacks can be devastating, leading to data loss and operational downtime.
They account for 25% of all cyberattacks, and during the holiday seasons, they see a spike due to reduced IT vigilance.
Data from Darktrace reveals that ransomware attempts surge by as much as 70% during the holiday season. This dramatic increase poses a serious threat to organizations, as these attacks often lead to extended operational downtime and substantial ransom demands.
Ensure regular backups of critical data, keep systems updated, and educate employees about the dangers of downloading attachments from unknown sources.
5. Avoid public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured, making it easier for cybercriminals to intercept data.
Advise employees to avoid accessing sensitive information or conducting business transactions over public Wi-Fi.
Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to secure the connection if necessary.
6. Use strong passwords
Weak passwords are a common entry point for cyber attackers.
In its 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report, Verizon highlighted that 81% of security breaches involved using stolen or weak passwords.
This finding underscores the importance of implementing strong authentication measures and raising awareness about password security to mitigate risks in today’s increasingly digital landscape.
How to avoid this?
Encourage the use of complex, unique passwords for different accounts, and consider implementing a password manager to help employees manage their credentials securely.
7. Use a credit card
Credit cards offer better fraud protection than debit cards, including chargeback mechanisms for unauthorized transactions.
Remind employees to prioritize credit cards for online and in-store holiday shopping.
8. Use a secure digital wallet
If you use a digital wallet to store your card details, ensure the service provider implements robust security measures.
It’s important to choose digital wallet providers that prioritize enhanced security measures to minimize the risk of keystroke logging or phishing.
Look for options that offer advanced features such as tokenization, which replaces sensitive data with unique tokens, and biometric authentication, ensuring that access is granted only through methods like fingerprints or facial recognition.
These additional layers of protection provide greater peace of mind and safeguard your transactions more effectively.
Digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay encrypt payment details, making transactions more secure.
9. Keep software updated
A highly effective way to safeguard yourself against cyber attacks is to ensure all your software is up-to-date.
This includes your operating system and your web browser, antivirus programs, and any other applications you frequently use.
Regular updates often contain crucial security patches that address vulnerabilities, making it significantly harder for cybercriminals to exploit your system.
10. Monitor network activity
Proactive network monitoring can detect unusual activity before it escalates into a full-blown attack.
Utilize intrusion detection systems and maintain a skeleton IT staff during the holidays to respond to real-time threats.
Conclusion
The holiday season, while festive and joyous, is also a high-risk period for cyber threats. By staying vigilant and implementing robust cybersecurity measures such as employee awareness training, multi-factor authentication, and regular software updates, individuals and organizations can protect sensitive data from malicious attacks.
Avoiding public Wi-Fi, using strong passwords, and adopting secure payment methods further reduce vulnerabilities.
By prioritizing these precautions, you can ensure a safer, more secure holiday season.
