Why Cyberattacks Rise During the Holidays

The holidays are typically a time for joy, family, and festive cheer. But for businesses, they can also bring a hidden Grinch in the form of a surge in cyberattacks. While sales often blossom during this period, so do the nefarious efforts of cybercriminals looking to cash in on the holiday frenzy.

Why the Spike? A Perfect Storm of Vulnerability:

• Increased online shopping: With holiday cheer comes a surge in online transactions, making businesses prime targets for phishing scams and data breaches.
• Strained IT resources: Holiday hustle often means stretched-thin IT teams, potentially overlooking vulnerabilities or delaying security updates.
• Seasonal staff: Temporary workers unfamiliar with security protocols can create weak points in your cyber defenses.
• Heightened pressure: Businesses eager to maximize holiday sales may be more susceptible to rash decisions when faced with cyber threats.
• Emotional manipulation: Cybercriminals exploit the holiday spirit, crafting convincing phishing emails and fake deals to lure in unsuspecting victims.

Common Holiday Cyberattacks:

1. Phishing scams: Emails and texts disguised as legitimate companies offering festive deals or urgent shipping updates can trick users into revealing personal information or clicking on malicious links.
2. Ransomware: Cybercriminals can encrypt business data and demand a ransom for its return, creating a potentially business-crippling situation during the crucial holiday season.
3. Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks: These attacks can overwhelm websites or servers with traffic, disrupting online operations and damaging brand reputation.
4. Supply chain attacks: Hackers infiltrate vendors or partners to gain access to systems and data, highlighting the importance of vetting the entire supply chain.

Tips for a Secure Holiday Season:

Hire a IT MSP like PivIT Strategy that provides all of these solutions to your business.

1. Train your employees: Educate staff on cybersecurity best practices, including spotting phishing scams and avoiding suspicious links.
2. Update your software: Ensure all software and systems are running the latest security patches to close potential vulnerabilities.
3. Backup your data: Regularly back up data to a secure location to minimize the impact of a potential attack.
4. Invest in cybersecurity solutions: Implement antivirus and endpoint protection software to detect and prevent malware infections.
5. Have a response plan: Develop a clear incident response plan outlining how to handle a cyberattack effectively and minimize damage.

Real Examples of Holiday Cyberattacks

• North Carolina’s City of Hendersonville: says cyber attack compromised employee data of all employees hired before 2021. The attack took place over the holidays.
• Macy’s: A data breach exposed the personal information of millions of customers, emphasizing the importance of keeping software up-to-date and securing all entry points.
• Target: A massive data breach during the holiday season affected millions of customers, highlighting the need for a strong supply chain security posture.

Conclusion:

By being aware of the increased risks and taking proactive measures, businesses can ensure a focus on festive joy, not cyber woes. Remember, a little cybersecurity preparation goes a long way in keeping the Grinch at bay. With vigilance and proactive measures, businesses can have a happy and cyber-safe holiday season. Read our blogs to see if you’ve already experienced a cyber attack and Understanding the Real Cost of a Cyberattack.