Black Friday and Cyber Monday draw millions of shoppers online to hunt for deals. But amid the excitement of discounted prices, there’s a hidden danger lurking: cyberthreats. In this article, we’ll break down some common cyberthreats you might face this season and offer practical tips on how to protect yourself.
The seasonal increase in cybercrime
Cybercriminals are particularly active during the holiday shopping season because of one key factor: opportunity. The surge in online transactions creates more vulnerabilities to exploit. Shoppers, busy hunting for the best deals and making quick purchases, often overlook security. At the same time, businesses eager to promote discounts flood inboxes with promotional emails. This mix of high demand, increased online activity, and reduced caution provides the perfect conditions for cybercriminals to strike.
Common cyberthreats during the holiday season
Cyberthreats take many forms, but during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, a few specific ones are more likely to target shoppers.
- Phishing and email scams: Cybercriminals send emails that appear to be from trusted retailers, offering irresistible deals through the links they include. Clicking on one of these links could send you to a phony website. When you provide your information to these websites, it is sent to the cybercriminals.
- Fake online stores: Some websites are crafted to mimic those of well-known retailers, presenting deals that seem too good to be true. After making a purchase, victims may eventually discover their credit cards maxed out and their personal information compromised.
- Malware and ransomware: These programs can infect devices, steal personal information, or hold files hostage for a ransom. Malware and ransomware often spread through infected ads, email attachments, or fake apps claiming to offer discounts.
- Credit card fraud: The increase in online shopping heightens the risk of credit card fraud. Cybercriminals exploit websites with weak security to steal payment information, which they may sell on the dark web or use to make unauthorized purchases.
Cybersecurity tips to stay safe this season
While the risks are real, there’s good news. With just a few simple precautions, you can protect your personal information during the busiest shopping season.
Verify before clicking anything
While you're shopping online, staying vigilant is crucial to avoiding cyberthreats. If you receive an email promoting a bargain, don't click on any links it may contain; instead, visit the retailer's website directly to check for promotions. Be on the lookout for red flags such as misspelled URLs or unfamiliar email addresses, which are common signs of phishing attempts.
Also, before making an online purchase, verify the security of the website. Check your browser’s address bar for the padlock symbol and “https” in the URL that indicate the site is encrypted.
Secure your online accounts
Using strong, unique passwords is essential to protecting online accounts. Weak or reused passwords are a common reason for account compromises. Create long passwords that combine numbers, letters, and symbols, and consider enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) for an added layer of security.
However, if you have multiple accounts across various retail websites, as well as banking or streaming platforms, managing unique passwords can be difficult. A password manager app can simplify this by generating and securely storing strong, unique passwords for each account.
Additionally, it's important to regularly monitor your accounts and review your bank and credit card statements to spot any unauthorized transactions.
Use trusted payment methods only
When making purchases online, it's important to choose trusted payment methods such as credit cards or services like PayPal. These options generally provide better fraud protection than debit cards, offering benefits such as fraud monitoring, detection, and procedures to dispute fraudulent charges. So, if a cybercriminal gains access to your credit card information, the damage is often easier to resolve and the financial impact is usually less permanent.
Install reliable security software
Quality antivirus and anti-malware programs can detect and block threats, including phishing attempts, malicious ads, and ransomware before they cause harm. Many security suites also include features that help you avoid scams, such as real-time browsing protection and alerts for suspicious websites. That said, remember to keep your security software updated, ensuring it can defend against the latest cyberthreats.
Want to learn more about how to protect your data during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond? Contact the experts at Kortek Solutions today.