It’s the season of perpetual hope, but unfortunately, it’s also the season of rampant scams.
With the rise in online shopping, opportunistic cybercriminals take advantage of buyers’ shopping fatigue and potentially relaxed guards.
We want to make sure you, your data and PII, your money, your business, and your holiday are defended, so we’ve put together some “Home Alone”-inspired tips for both professional and personal use to ensure you evade becoming ensnared in a cyber scam.
BEWARe OF WET BANDITs
I.e., Phishing attempt are flooding your devices this time of year
You’ve received dozens of emails & text messages with your favorite stores’ best deals and discounts. But don’t let your guard down. Never click a link you weren’t expecting. Instead, open a web browser and type in the URL yourself.
CREDIT CARd? YOU GOT iT!
I.e., Monitor your accounts closely!
The rise in online shopping creates more opportunities for cyber criminals to swipe your credit card details. Keep a close eye on those statements so you can detect a compromised account before they spend $967 on room service!
BUZZ! I'M READING THROUGH ALL YOUR PRIVATe STUFF!
I.e., Never use public wifi!
We’re never fans of using public wifi, but *especially* not when you’re making purchases or submitting any kind of sensitive personal data.
IT's SCARY OUT THERe
I.e., Beware of sketchy places online
There are a lot of sketchy websites out there. Before purchasing, do some quick research to make sure the website you’re on is legit! Always look for a secure “HTTPS” (not “HTTP”) and/or a padlock in the address bar. Be skeptical of unusually low prices, and never enter PII if the site looks unprofessional, outdated, or just “off.” It could be a scam.
I CAN'T TELL YOu THAT BECAUSE YOu'RE A STRANGEr.
I.e., Keep your PII private
Kevin was right not to disclose where he lives to the grocery store clerk! It’s never a good idea to share real names, addresses, or PII with strangers online or IRL!
My FAMILY'S IN FLORIDa. I'M IN NEW YORk.
I.e., Reroute your online footprint with a VPN
A virtual private network is a great tool that creates a secure connection between a device & network by encrypting your internet traffic and hiding your IP address with physical location. When you can, use one!
...WATCHING RUBBISH! YOU BETTER COME OUT AND STOP ME!
I.e., Keep an eye on your family's online activity
Kids today are incredibly savvy with devices, but they’re also very curious and trusting, so they can quickly find themselves on a sketchy site, video, or app because of an accidental click.
IT'S FREEDOM. NO, IT'S FISH.
I.e., Stay aware of phishing
It’s prime season for those fake UPS or bank emails warning you there was a problem with your parcel or a large charge on your account. Don’t ever click anything in an unprompted email, and if you think one of these messages could be legitimate, get on the phone & call directly.
THIS IS MY HOUSe. I HAVE TO DEFEND It.
I.e., Talk to your employees and your family about internet safety
Create a communication strategy to prepare and empower all of your employees (and your family), so so one isn’t left out of the loop on the third floor.
A few other excellent tips (and no, they're not just pieces of gum)
Always lock the doors, twice, with multi-factor authentication
There are many ways credentials can be intercepted. Multi-factor authentication is the deadbolt that keeps hackers from casually slipping inside.
Stay out of the basement
The old server room is where the threats lurk. Outdated tech is no different. Retire it before it drags the whole house down and find ways to automate systems.
Round-the-clock monitoring
Continuous monitoring reveals the threats in the shadows before they can do any crippling damage.
Have an escape plan
Backups and disaster recovery aren’t optional—they’re absolute survival necessities, so you don’t have to rely on Old Man Marley to save the day!
Share these tips with your organization and your family members, and get in touch with us if you’d like to arm yourself with the tools to protect and defend (or prevent in the first place) these and other cyber threats, and of course…
Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal!
"You guys give up? Or ya thirsty for more? "
Head back to our TechTok blog section of the Newsroom for more cyber security tips from our wonderfully talented, friendly, knowledgeable (and might we add, remarkably charming) pros!