Summary:
- Cybersecurity risks increase due to the hybrid working model one of them is phishing attacks.
- Cybercriminals become more active during the holiday season because they know people are busy and won’t thoroughly review the email they receive.
- Cybersecurity training is essential for an organization to cater to these security risks.
There is no way to end the flood since the pandemic triggered online shopping to rise to a new dimension and with it cybercrime. According to an FBI 2021 report, the holiday frauds cost the sum of $500 million in Victims in the US by themselves. The 2022 Christmas season is not going to be other than the previous.
With remote and hybrid working settings now becoming so popular choices, the holiday season may be able to blur the line between home and work computers. That means cybercriminals are more likely to get access to corporate information. With all these reasons, it’s easy to comprehend why holiday scams provide an incentive for companies to offer cybersecurity education and training to their employees.
The question is how do you continue your shopping habits, without risking the security of the information you provide to your business?
Hybrid work & the holidays: a hacker’s dream
Do you know? The holiday season is best for cybercriminals to attack organizations’ personal data. Therefore the hybrid working model makes a sweet spot for them.
The Microsoft Report found that 87 percent of employees believe that they are more productive remotely or hybrid. In addition, many professional workers stated that they would prefer to work in a flexible environment.
There are many security risks that result from the hybrid environment. One of the most significant concerns is the risk of placing data belonging to corporate entities at risk. Because in the flexible environment the user starts doing official work on the home system or utilizes his office system for personal shopping.
However, between March and July 2021, many enterprises were hit with the risk of data breaches or security breaches due to remote working. A majority of the instances were phishing scams. Furthermore, many businesses have noticed a steady increase in ransomware-related infections distributed via Vishing, phishing and whaling attacks.
As the holiday season approaches companies are prepared to face an increase in cyberattacks, especially phishing scams. Thus, businesses need to prepare to inform their employees and prepare them for the dangers of phishing. Cybersecurity certifications and training are the best way to equip employees for such attacks. This will allow users to recognize emails that appear fraudulent and decrease the chances of employees being hacked.
Phishing scams you need to watch out for these holidays
Christmas sales and year-end sales many of your employees start surfing the internet for looking gifts and different items. Research shows most employees use their working devices for visiting different shopping sites.
Hackers know that your employees are busy during the Christmas season, so they don’t have time to thoroughly review the email they receive. This is exactly how phishing attacks happen.
Here’s what you should look for.
Fake Purchasing Receipt
This is the most common scam, hackers send you an email of a fake order receipt that looks so real. The invoice looks like it comes from a legitimate company such as Apple, Microsoft, McAfee or any service you are using at that time.
The aim of such a phishing attack is to play with the emotions of the user. Because an emotionally triggered person is determined to rectify the mistake or wants to know when they might have placed an order for this service or product.
Spoofed Delivery Status
For festivals and holiday reunions, make sure that your parcel is delivered on time and in the best condition. It is a top priority for a lot of us. But, hackers tend to benefit from this especially during the Christmas season, particularly since consumers are placing more orders on the internet than they normally do.
It is common for criminals to send fake delivery updates from well-known couriers such as TCS, FedEx and UPS. These emails contain a malicious link with fake receipts, that are designed to take advantage of the receiver.
Holiday Sale Scams
It’s difficult to ignore the discount price on a brand-new Apple Watch or another gadget you are willing to buy. To find out whether it’s genuine, the user clicks the link and is redirected to sites that hackers handle.
For the holiday season, it is crucial to stay alert and clear of clicking on links within mailers at all times. Instead, if the offer comes from a reputable retailer, go to their website directly instead of clicking the provided link in the email.
Special Holiday Giveaway Scams
Scammers promote fictitious holiday giveaways on social media, promising goods and “free cash” in exchange for personal information. You need to submit sensitive information to win a free gift. Don’t provide information if you’re requested for financial details (such as your credit card number) or information about your place of employment. Therefore, ignore social media surveys, and don’t believe anyone who promises you freebies or prizes.
Protect your employees by providing training and cybersecurity certifications
Training for seasonal awareness is an essential defense against holiday-related phishing. However, it’s not the ultimate goal and the final straw for all.
But this is the perfect moment to train and educate your employees and users on the cyber-security threats they might confront with the Christmas dawning this season. Only through training and cybersecurity certifications, you can make your employees prepared to identify all types of phishing frauds. By educating them they become the guardians of your company’s information.