If you don’t want to be targeted by online hacks, identity theft, and scams, don’t let your cyber guard down this Christmas season. This is how you protect yourself.
As parts of the world prepare for the holiday rush, buying gifts, preparing to travel and spending time with loved ones, experts are warning of a seasonal spike in cybercrime.
according to Survey results by cybersecurity company DarktraceRansomware attacks during the holiday season increased by 30% annually from 2018 to 2020 compared to the monthly average.
For Ed Skudis, president of SANS Technology Institute College, which trains cybersecurity professionals, the reasons for this increase are manifold.
“There are so many things we do during the holidays: parties, presents, shopping, this and that. We have less time to be on guard, less attention, and criminals know that,” Skoudis told Euronews Next. Ta.
According to experts, the year-end and New Year holidays are the perfect time for criminals due to the flow of money during this period.
Cybercriminals target both individuals and individuals. companyPrivacy-focused tech company Proton says companies are “let down their guard” due to talent shortages.
Criminals are also aware that attacks are likely to yield personal information that can be used to commit fraud, as large amounts of data such as credit card information are circulated in large quantities by online retailers. says the technology company.
Cybercrime to watch out for during the holidays
As online shopping reaches an annual paroxysm, so do “fake order confirmations from major e-commerce companies.” Experts advise users not to click on links if in doubt.
Travelers should also be careful when connecting to airport Wi-Fi and public networks, as personal data may be compromised and devices damaged.
“Using a VPN is the best protection users have when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, because it encrypts your network traffic. Even if someone intercepts your data, they cannot decrypt it. You won’t be able to see the data unless you do it,” a Proton spokesperson said. Euronews Next.
Skoudis also recommends being especially careful about voice cloning, a method of impersonation that is on the rise with the advent of universal AI.
“If you can get a minute or so of someone’s audio, you can feed it into an AI and train it to say whatever you want it to say,” Skudis said.
“Imagine if a criminal called your family in your voice and said, ‘Oh my God, I’ve been in a car accident and I want you to call this number immediately.’ “If you talk to your doctor, they may ask for your medical records or send you through a billing department to register your credit card.” explained.
“This is really insidious and pushes people’s buttons,” the cyber expert noted.
How to protect your online accounts ahead of the holiday season
While cyber hygiene always requires the use of strong passwords, latest softwaremulti-factor authentication allows you to take extra precautions ahead of the most joyful time of the year.
SANS director who compiled the 20th edition holiday hackan online game aimed at increasing cyber security awareness among users of all levels, states that one of the most important measures is to have access to the email address used as a backup for the main mailbox. I am.
“We encourage everyone to double-check whether they still have access to their backup email account for their primary email account,” Skudis said.
“So many accounts send an email to your primary email address if you forget your password. But what if you don’t have access to your primary email address?” I asked, emphasizing that it usually arrives in a backup mailbox.
The expert said if an attacker logs into your primary email account, changes your password, and can’t access your backup account, you could be locked out and sent a “forgot your password” message. It is said that there is.
“It’s nice to reaffirm the holidays,” he said.
On a more practical side, experts also recommend saving your bank and credit card numbers on your phone so you can contact them if you get scammed.
“You get an email, you click on it, you’re being scammed. Two minutes later you’re like, ‘Shit, I got scammed.’ Call your credit card company and your bank right away. The sooner you act, the sooner you act.” , it is unlikely that they will be able to transfer money,” he concluded.