The holiday season is a time of joy, generosity, and unfortunately—cybercrime. It’s an opportune time for cybercriminals to strike, as online activity spikes, businesses close their doors or operate with limited staff, year-end transactions are processed, and personal holiday plans distract employees. For businesses with minimal IT and cybersecurity support, this surge poses a significant threat.

But don’t let cyber threats dampen your holiday cheer. By understanding the risks and taking proactive measures, you can safeguard your business. Let's unwrap the 12 most common holiday cyber threats and the preventative measures you can take to protect yourself.

1. Festive Phishing Schemes

Phishing attacks peak as cybercriminals mimic popular retailers, shipping companies, or charitable organizations. These emails often advertise fake sales, gift card offers, or urgent shipping notifications, luring recipients into clicking malicious links or divulging sensitive information. In 2023, phishing alerts increased by 46% in December compared to the rest of the year. [Cyberint, 2024]

Regular cybersecurity training can equip your staff to recognize and report suspicious emails, while advanced email filtering solutions prevent these threats from ever reaching inboxes. By staying vigilant and educating your team, you can reduce the risk of a successful phishing attack.

2. Fake Shops, Real Threats

Prepare for a surge in fraudulent online stores that mimic legitimate retailers, complete with professional websites and irresistible holiday promotions. These malicious sites trick users into entering personal and financial information, which criminals then exploit.

Encourage your employees to shop on trusted websites and verify URLs carefully. By promoting safe online practices, you can safeguard both personal and company data.

3. Silent Nights & Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware attacks often spike during the holidays when onsite IT staff levels are reduced. Cybercriminals exploit this vulnerability, infiltrating systems to encrypt critical data and demanding a ransom for its release. A recent study found that 86% of ransomware attacks occur on a holiday or weekend. [CBS News 2024]

Implementing robust backup solutions and ensuring they are regularly updated, can mitigate the impact of such attacks. Additionally, a strong managed detection and response system provides 24/7 monitoring, allowing rapid identification and containment of threats.

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4. The Season of Giving (Your Passwords Away)

Employees may use work devices for holiday shopping or reuse passwords across multiple sites, increasing the risk of credential theft. Cybercriminals exploit these weak points to gain unauthorized access to corporate systems. 78% of individuals repeat passwords across accounts, both personal and professional, amplifying the potential for breaches. [Security Magazine,2024]

Enterprise-grade password management solutions that enforce the use of strong, unique passwords can significantly reduce this risk. Enforcing Robust MFA (multi-factor authentication) policies and educating your staff about re-using passwords via regular cybersecurity training will significantly fortify your business’ defenses.

5. Deck the Halls, Lock Down the Data

As employees take extended vacations or transition into new roles at the end of the year, we see an uptick in insider threats, whether intentional or accidental. An employee might inadvertently expose sensitive information or, in rare cases, misuse access privileges. Insider threats account for approximately 60% of data breaches according to ISACA. [ISACA, 2024]

Cloud data management solutions allow businesses to regularly review and manage user access levels, ensuring that employees have only the permissions necessary for their roles. Moreover, secure cloud management provides the ability to immediately revoke access or delete files when an employee transitions out of the company, preventing unauthorized use of proprietary data. Establishing clear policies, providing training on data handling, and leveraging cloud-based access controls can prevent unintentional leaks and protect against misuse.

6. Jingle All the Way…to Secure Connection

As your team travels or works remotely during the holidays, they may connect to public Wi-Fi networks in airports, hotels, or cafes. These unsecured networks are hotspots for cybercriminals looking to intercept data or distribute malware. A survey revealed that 69% of internet users access public Wi-Fi at least once a week, with nearly half admitting to connecting to networks they are unsure are legitimate. [All About Cookies, 2023]

Providing employees with Virtual Private Network (VPN)access ensures that their connections are encrypted and secure, even on public networks. Educating your staff about the dangers of unsecured Wi-Fi and encouraging the use of personal hotspots, when possible, can further protect your business no matter where work takes your team.

7. Goodwill Gone Wrong

The spirit of giving is strong during the holidays, and cybercriminals exploit this goodwill by setting up fake charity websites or sending fraudulent donation requests. Businesses may unknowingly contribute funds or disclose financial information to these scams. The FTC reported $21 million in charitable solicitation fraud losses in 2022. [NY DOS, 2023]

To avoid falling victim, verify the legitimacy of charities before making any donations. Use official channels or trusted platforms to ensure your contributions reach the intended recipients. Monitoring financial accounts regularly for unauthorized transactions can also help detect and address any fraudulent activity promptly.

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8. Personal Devices, Professional Danger

The gift-giving season that brings new gadgets also brings cyberthreats as employees use personal devices for work purposes without proper security configurations. A survey found that over half of employees use personal devices for work, while only 22% of organizations provide IT support for these devices. [ExplodingTopics, 2024]

Providing IT support to help employees secure their devices ensures that any device accessing company data meets your security standards. Encouraging the use of company-approved applications and security tools further protects your information.

9. Malware Wrapped in Holiday Cheer

Holiday e-cards are a popular way to spread cheer throughout the office, but they can also spread malware. Opening an infected e-card can compromise your systems, leading to data breaches or network shutdowns. Scammers send thousands of malware-ridden virtual greetings after the holidays, so stay alert and doublecheck the sender’s contact information, grammar, and URLs before clicking any suspicious links.

Encourage employees to be cautious with email attachments, especially from unknown senders. Implementing advanced antivirus solutions can detect and block malicious files before they cause harm.

10. Spreading the Holiday Hazards

Cybercriminals may target third-party vendors to gain access to your systems, exploiting the interconnectedness of modern business operations. During the holidays, increased interactions with suppliers and partners can expose your business to risks if their security measures are lacking. The number of US entities impacted by supply chain cyber-attacks rose 58% in 2023 to the highest reported number since 2017.  [Statista 2024]

Conduct due diligence on your vendors' cybersecurity practices and consider including security requirements in contracts. Using monitoring tools to detect unusual activities related to third-party access is also advisable. Strengthening third-party relationships, with security in mind, contributes to a more secure supply chain.

11. Party Crashers with a Plan

Holiday parties and social events provide opportunities for cybercriminals to gather information through casual conversations or impersonation. They may exploit the relaxed atmosphere to manipulate employees into revealing confidential information. These infiltration techniques, called social engineering, are involved in 98% of cyber-attacks. [Sprinto, 2024] With advancements in AI technology, social engineering is no longer limited to in-person interaction. Attackers can create convincing deepfake audio or video impersonations of individuals within your organization.

Regular training can help employees recognize and resist social engineering tactics. Establishing clear protocols for verifying identities before sharing sensitive information adds an additional safeguard, maintaining professional vigilance even during social occasions.

12. New Year, Old Software

With the year-end rush, essential software updates and patches might be overlooked. Cybercriminals exploit these outdated systems to infiltrate networks, knowing that vulnerabilities remain unpatched. 32% of cyberattacks stem from an unpatched software vulnerability. [ninjaOne,2024]

Scheduling regular updates and using automated tools to manage patches can keep your systems secure without adding to your team's workload. Remote monitoring services can ensure that all devices are up-to-date, even when staff members are out of the office. By staying current with software updates, you close the door on known vulnerabilities.

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Stay Secure, Stay Festive

The holidays should be a time of joy and relaxation—not a season of worry about cyber threats. At Lightspeed Solutions, we are committed to helping businesses like yours navigate the unique cybersecurity challenges of the high-risk holiday season and beyond. By staying ahead of potential threats and implementing proactive measures, you can protect your business while keeping the holiday spirit alive!

Our comprehensive IT and cybersecurity services are tailored to your needs, including:

·        Cybersecurity Training to build a culture of security awareness.

·        Phishing & Scam Prevention Tools to safeguard against deceptive attacks.

·        Managed Detection & Response for 24/7 threat monitoring.

·        Next-Gen Antivirus to defend against the latest malware.

·        Enterprise-Grade Password Management to enforce strong security practices.

·        Dark Web Monitoring to catch compromised credentials early.

·        US-Based IT Help Desk providing live, human support when it matters most.

·        Remote Monitoring & Management ensuring systems stay updated and secure.

·        Cloud Solutions for scalable and secure data management.

·        VPN Services for safe and private remote access.

·        And more!

Contact us today to safeguard your business during this holiday season—and every season.