Sadly, cybercriminals don’t take breaks over Christmas. In fact, with so many more financial transactions taking place over the festive season, it’s a prime opportunity for cybercriminals to take advantage of poor cybersecurity. The Christmas season is a perfect background for a cybercriminal to attack, so what are the most common ways that you could be caught out this festive season?
According to cybersecurity services provider, ramsac, there are 6 common cyber-attacks that are rife during the winter months. To help you keep your data safe, here’s everything you need to know about avoiding them./
Top 6 most common cyber-attacks at Christmas
Phishing scams
Deceptive by nature, phishing scams are fraudulent emails or texts designed to trick you. Whilst you wouldn’t tell a stranger your PIN number, simply clicking on a suspicious link could share your password or personal details with a criminal. It’s that easy.
With companies taking advantage of festive deals, you’ll likely have several email offers in your inbox enticing you to buy the latest products. Of course, this is a prime opportunity for scammers too who may pose as some of your favourite companies or brands.
How to avoid them:
You’ll never get rid of phishing scams, but you can apply caution when checking your emails or texts. Many scams have a sense of urgency to them, other than regular sales-speak, almost forcing you to take immediate action without thinking about the consequences.
You can check the email address to see if it looks legitimate, comparing it with other emails you’ve been sent by the company. Any spelling or grammatical errors are also a key giveaway. You should always exercise caution when looking at the URLs and avoid clicking on them. Instead, you can use a link checker to see if it’s real or fake.
Malware
Malware is malicious software that’s designed to steal personal data and harm your computer. If you’re a victim of this attack, it can prove particularly nasty, making affected devices unsafe to use until the problem is resolved.
Unlike phishing scams, malware doesn’t originate from just a text or email. Sadly, infected software, programs, email attachments, websites and USB sticks can cause it to spread, rendering your device unusable.
How to avoid it:
Keep updating your software, including on your personal mobiles and home computers. Software patches often add a layer of protection against malware, with outdated software leaving you vulnerable. Make sure you also have a good anti-virus program installed that can actively monitor your devices. So, as you’re putting the star on the top of your tree, pop software updates at the top of your list.
Reusing or creating weak passwords
It’s scary how many weak passwords people use, from 123456 to a first name like Michael, some even use the word password. Whilst there is no shame if you currently have a password like this, you must change it sooner rather than later. A password like the two above can be instantly hacked by attackers. Reusing it can only make matters worse.
How to strengthen your password:
Password managers are a great way to generate and store more complex passwords, allowing you to create unique combinations every time. Alternatively, you can follow this rule:
- Use a mixture of numbers, letters, symbols and lower case.
- Ensure it is 12-18 characters long.
- Use a string of words, such as tree, mulled and tinsel.
- Modify them to look something like this: T4eEmu1!3dt1N$El
Fake shopping website
These attacks are a little more sophisticated for unsuspecting Christmas shoppers. Whilst they might look like legitimate websites, they’re actually scams. Essentially, you may enter your card details and address to complete your transaction, but your purchase will never arrive.
Sites like this might show advertising and product descriptions, appearing like a real e-commerce website. However, branded items, such as shoes, sunglasses and designers bags, will be displayed at unrealistically low prices, making you think you’ve found a bargain.
How to avoid them:
The best advice here is to shop only from sites you trust and be wary of those bargains!
Social media scams
From posts sharing misinformation to fake giveaways, social media is rife with fraudulent activity. At Christmas, it can be tempting to find a bargain on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok through featured products and supposed ads, but it’s worth erring on the side of caution first. Social media scams can easily compromise your personal data and often without you knowing.
How to avoid them:
Remain cautious when sharing personal details on social media, even seemingly innocent posts like finding out your Christmas elf name. Disclosing your mother’s maiden name or first childhood pet are often answers to personal banking security questions. Likewise, avoid clicking on any links in unsolicited messages you receive.
Public Wi-Fi
Sure, public Wi-Fi isn’t a scam and it is designed for your use. But, even as you’re enjoying a gingerbread latte to break up your shopping trip, you could be at risk. More than often, public Wi-Fi networks are unsecured, allowing attackers and criminals to virtually eavesdrop on your traffic and steal your personal information.
How to avoid virtual eavesdroppers:
It can be tempting to check your bank balance whilst out and about, but it’s worth waiting until you get home or using a VPN to encrypt your session. In fact, avoid anything that houses personal details, like credit card information or your telephone number.
How can you stay safe this Christmas?
From phishing emails to malware attacks, Christmas presents the perfect opportunity to exploit our vulnerabilities. Of course, cybersecurity is the last thing you might think about whilst you’re enjoying a glass of mulled wine and decorating your Christmas tree, but it shouldn’t be. After all, you don’t want to be worrying about a data breach or computer virus as you’re unwrapping those presents or tucking into your dinner. So, it’s best to prepare ahead of time.
An expert in cybersecurity, Dan May, has left reassurances for those feeling vulnerable to a cyber-attack this Christmas. “During the holiday season, many are at a higher risk of being targeted by cybercriminals. These online scammers know this and use it to their advantage. So, we want to remind everyone to be cyber conscious. Strengthen your passwords, be suspicious of unsolicited emails, calls and texts, and keep your software up to date.
