The holiday season is a time for joy and togetherness, but unfortunately, it's also a time when cybercriminals increase their attacks. By taking advantage of our lowered guard and increased use of digital services, they try to trick us into clicking on malicious links or sharing sensitive information.
Cybercriminals take advantage of holidays to intensify their attacks, with the Holiday season seeing a 550% increase in unique threats.
Phishing attacks become more sophisticated during holidays, with cybercriminals impersonating familiar individuals or organizations to trick us into sharing sensitive information.
A cyberattack can have several serious consequences, for companies, partners, and employees.
They send fake Christmas cards and greetings with malicious links or attachments that can infect devices. During the holiday shopping season, fake delivery notifications become more common, luring users to click on links leading to websites that steal personal information.
Additionally, they exploit our generosity through fake charity campaigns to gain access to our data.
What can happen if you are attacked?
A cyberattack can have several serious consequences, for companies, partners, and employees. Computers can be infected with viruses that damage files, steal personal data, or be used to attack others. Identity theft can lead to financial losses and other serious issues.
For example: In January 2024, The hacker group Akira carried out a major cyber attack against the Finnish IT provider Tietoevry. The payroll systems of 120 public authorities were disrupted, several regions and municipalities experienced IT system issues, and private companies were also been affected.
"Phishing attacks become more sophisticated during holidays"
Ransomware can encrypt important files and demand payment for their recovery. Furthermore, both individuals and businesses can suffer reputational damage if they are hacked.
How to stay safe this holiday season
- Be careful with unknown links and attachments: Never click on links or open attachments in emails from unknowns, without ensuring that the sender can be trusted.
- Enable two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. The extra time it takes to log in makes it much harder for cybercriminals to access your sensitive data.
- Keep your software updated: Make sure all your devices and programs have the latest security updates.
- Be aware of phishing attacks: Learn to recognize the signs of phishing attacks, such as poor spelling, incorrect domain names, and threatening language. Nimblr takes a holistic approach to the teaching of IT security, making Security Awareness part of everyday work.
- Be critical and use common sense: If something seems too good to be true, it often is. Stay vigilant.
By being aware of the most common cyber threats and by taking a few simple precautions, you can protect yourself from cyberattacks during the holiday season and throughout the year.
