Threats Around the Christmas Holidays: Stay Alert to Cyber Security Risks
The beginning of Christmas week brings us joy and celebration. However, it’s also important to remember the heightened risk during this time of year. As we gear up to celebrate the festival with great enthusiasm and joy, cyber criminals also prepare to exploit distractions and naivety spiked during this season. The Christmas period presents a prime opportunity for cyber crimes ranging from phishing to sophisticated ransomware and other dangerous cyber attacks designed to take advantage of our distractions, goodwill, and eagerness for holiday deals.
The holiday season traditionally sees a spike in online shopping and the use of digital platforms for communication, entertainment, and financial transactions. Unfortunately, this uptick in digital activity coincides with an increase in cyber threats. For cyber criminals, the holidays represent a time when individuals are more likely to let their guard down, resulting in a perfect storm of opportunity.
Here, we will discuss the major holiday season threats to be aware of during the festive period.
Holiday Threats to Watch For
Ransomware Attacks
With its heightened activity and distractions, the holiday season provides an ideal opportunity for cyber criminals to execute ransomware attacks. Cyber criminals may infiltrate an organisation’s data, demanding a ransom for its safe return. The urgency of the season, combined with the increased volume of financial transactions and business activity, may leave organisations vulnerable to quick decision-making, often leading to compromised cyber security. To mitigate the risk of ransomware, organisations should prioritise regular data backups, ensure the backups are securely stored and tested, and maintain robust cyber security defences.
Phishing Attacks
Phishing is another cyber attack that spikes during the Christmas holiday season. These attacks often aim to deceive victims into revealing sensitive information such as login credentials, banking details, or payment information. Some examples of festive phishing tactics include fake delivery updates, fraudulent holiday promotions, or seemingly legitimate invoices from trusted brands such as Amazon, Apple, or courier services. To defend against this threat, organisations should implement phishing awareness training to raise employee awareness, helping them recognise suspicious messages and avoid falling victim to such attacks.
Insider Threats
The stress and pressure accompanying the holiday season can exacerbate the risk of insider threats within organisations. Disgruntled employees or those experiencing personal issues may engage in malicious activities, such as data theft, fraud, or sabotaging company systems. To reduce the likelihood of insider threats, it is essential to implement stringent access controls, ensure that only authorised personnel have access to sensitive data, and monitor employee activity for any unusual or suspicious behaviour. Additionally, fostering a positive workplace culture and supporting employees can help mitigate internal risks during this time of heightened stress.
Unsecured Online Shopping
The holiday season is often the busiest season for e-commerce retailers, during which many people shop online. However, it also presents a prime opportunity for cyber criminals to set up fraudulent websites and fake deals. Unsuspecting online shoppers, often distracted by the excitement of gift buying, can easily fall victim to scams, providing sensitive personal information such as credit card details, addresses, and social security numbers. These stolen credentials can then be used for identity theft or financial fraud. Organisations should educate employees about the dangers of shopping on unsecured or suspicious websites, encourage secure payment methods, and advise against purchasing on work devices or networks.
Disguised Malware Risks
The holiday season also sees an increase in app downloads as individuals search for holiday-related games, shopping apps, and productivity tools. However, cyber criminals leverage this by creating malicious apps disguised as holiday-themed applications. These apps often contain malware that can steal personal information, track user activity, or infect mobile devices with viruses. To prevent such risks, it is essential to only download applications from trusted, official sources such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Users should also review app permissions carefully to ensure that apps are not requesting unnecessary access to sensitive data.
DDoS Attacks
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks involve overwhelming a targeted server, service, or network with an influx of internet traffic to disrupt its normal functioning. These attacks are often more prevalent during busy periods such as the holiday season, when online traffic is at its peak, and IT staff may be distracted or reduced in number. The consequences of a successful DDoS attack can include downtime, loss of service, and damage to a company’s digital reputation. To protect against DDoS attacks, organisations should implement DDoS mitigation strategies, such as traffic filtering, load balancing, and specialised protection services that can absorb malicious traffic and maintain service continuity.
Conclusion
The holiday season may be a time for giving and celebration, but it also presents a unique cyber security risk set that requires a proactive defence. By addressing the threats of malicious gift cards, phishing schemes, insider threats, DDoS attacks, and more, organisations can significantly reduce their exposure to cyber crime. Implementing robust security policies, educating employees, and ensuring that all systems are up to date will provide the defence-in-depth necessary to keep sensitive data and business operations secure during this critical period.
Stay vigilant, be proactive, and ensure that your holiday season remains festive without the disruption of cyber threats. Follow Cyber News Live for the latest security tips and news about cyber threats.
