7 Reasons Cyber Attacks Spike During The Holidays
Table of Contents
As we deck the halls and dive into the festive spirit, there’s a less cheerful side to the holiday season that often goes unnoticed: a significant rise in cyber attacks. While we’re busy shopping for gifts, planning family gatherings, and enjoying well-deserved breaks, cybercriminals are ramping up their nefarious activities. With its unique blend of increased online activity and seasonal distractions, the holiday season creates a perfect storm for digital threats.
From phishing scams wrapped in holiday cheer to reduced vigilance in cybersecurity, the reasons behind this spike are as varied as they are concerning. Understanding these reasons is crucial in arming ourselves against the heightened risk of cyber threats during the holidays.
7 Reasons Why Cyber Crime Spikes During The Holidays
Here are seven reasons cyber attacks notably increase during the holiday season.
1. High Volume of Online Shopping
With the holidays bringing massive online sales and deals, there’s a surge in online shopping activities. Cybercriminals exploit this increase by creating fake websites, sending scam emails with amazing offers, and setting up fraudulent online stores to steal credit card information and personal data.
2. Lowered Guard Among Users
The festive mood often leads to a relaxed approach to security practices. People are more likely to overlook suspicious emails or neglect updating their security software, making them easy targets for cyber attacks. We must stay diligent, even during the holidays.
3. Holiday-Themed Cyber Traps
Attackers often use holiday themes to disguise their malicious intentions. Phishing emails and fake websites featuring holiday discounts or charity donation requests can trick users into clicking on harmful links or revealing sensitive information.
4. Reduced IT Staffing
Many organizations operate with limited staff during the holidays, especially in IT and cybersecurity departments. This reduction can lead to slower response times to threats and leaves systems more vulnerable to attacks that might otherwise be quickly identified and mitigated.
5. Personal Devices Are More in Use
The holidays often mean more time at home and more usage of personal devices for shopping and browsing. These devices might not have the same level of security as corporate ones, leaving personal data more vulnerable to breaches and malware attacks.
CyberGate IT offers Mobile Device Management (MDM) services that can help protect you and your company’s mobile devices, all year long!
6. Risks of Public Wi-Fi Networks
Travel increases during the holiday season, leading to more people using public Wi-Fi networks. These networks are less secure, allowing cybercriminals to intercept data or deploy man-in-the-middle attacks on unsuspecting holiday travelers.
7. Exploiting the Season of Trust
The holiday season is typically a time of trust and generosity. Cyber attackers use social engineering tactics to manipulate individuals into making security mistakes or divulging sensitive information under the guise of holiday cheer.
Wishing You and Your Company A Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays
The team at CyberGate would like to wish you, your employees, and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! As we celebrate the season, it’s crucial to stay vigilant against these heightened cyber threats. Keep your software updated, be skeptical of too-good-to-be-true offers, and practice good digital hygiene to enjoy a safe and secure holiday season.
FAQ About MDM For Your Business
Mobile Device Management (MDM) service is a type of technology used by businesses to manage, monitor, and secure employees’ mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops that are used for work purposes. These services allow IT administrators to oversee and control device security, manage applications, and ensure that these devices comply with the company’s policies.
MDM systems can monitor various aspects of a mobile device. This includes app usage, device location, network data, and email accounts. They can enforce security policies, push updates, and sometimes even remotely lock or wipe a device. However, the exact capabilities depend on the specific MDM software and the privacy policies of the company.
Whether MDM can track browsing history depends on the MDM software’s capabilities and the company’s policy. Some MDM systems have the ability to track browsing history, especially if the browsing is done through a company-provided or managed app. However, many companies respect privacy concerns and choose not to track this information unless it’s necessary for security reasons.
Deciding to use MDM for your business depends on several factors. If your business involves employees using mobile devices to access company data, especially if they use their personal devices (BYOD), then MDM can be crucial for maintaining data security and compliance with data protection regulations. It also helps in managing a wide range of devices efficiently, reducing IT workload, and protecting against potential security breaches.