Cyber Security - How to Stay Safe from Christmas Cyber Attacks

20 Nov 2024

Cyber Security - How to Stay Safe from Christmas Cyber Attacks

Christmas is coming soon and holiday periods are a perfect time for relaxing and connecting with family and friends however for the cyber criminals there is no holidays!

These busy times and extended periods of business closure provides cyber criminals with a perfect opportunity, if they hack in and breach a business, they have much longer dwell times within a business’s systems and network, allowing the hacker more time to exfiltrate confidential data and deploy malware like ransomware, resulting in serious ramifications for any business impacted.  Ransomware attacks alone spike by up to 70% during the holidays!

See what a ransomware incident could cost potentially cost your business financially with LoughTec’s bespoke cyber attack impact calculator.

Why the Holiday Periods Attract Cyber criminals

Cyber criminals are quick to follow both money and trending events, taking advantage of busy time for many business’s trading and revenue wise, heavy shopping traffic and distracted consumers and employees an ultimately the downtime period of closure.

Here are a few reasons why cyber risks are especially high during the holidays:

• Distracted Shoppers and Employees - People are focused on finding the best deals and finishing their shopping, making them more likely to overlook potential threats to them in personal or work communications.
• Heightened Network Traffic - Companies often struggle with the extra load on their networks during peak shopping seasons, leaving them vulnerable to attacks like Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS).
• Abundance of Phishing Opportunities - With an influx of holiday-themed emails and promotions, phishing attempts tend to be more effective as users trust emails from what appear to be well-known companies along with just extremely convenient timing

Common Cyber Attacks During the Holiday Season

Several types of cyber attacks increase during the holiday season due to the reasons above. Here’s a look at the most common:

• Phishing - Fake promotional emails from what appear to be retailers or delivery companies are more likely to be clicked, as people expect to receive tracking and sales emails.
• Ransomware - Ransomware attacks rise significantly (up to 70% during peak months), as cyber criminals know businesses are willing to pay to avoid interruptions.
• DDoS Attacks - With network systems under strain, cyber criminals launch DDoS attacks, exploiting overloaded servers to cause outages.

How COVID-19 and Remote Work Changed the Cyber Security Landscape

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated cyber threats as remote work introduced new vulnerabilities. With many employees working from home, many companies faced cyber threats due to unprotected networks and unsecured devices. Additionally, attackers exploited COVID-related news and information to craft targeted phishing emails and fake websites.

Even now, remote work continues to present challenges, with 47% of employees experiencing phishing attempts when working from home according to Deloitte.  To maintain cyber security, organisations must prioritise secure remote access and increase awareness among remote staff.

Tips to Protect Your Organisation from Holiday Cyber Attacks

Strengthening cyber security measures for the holiday periods is essential to avoid falling victim to cyber threats. Here are some ways to enhance your defences:

• Educate Employees - Regularly train employees to recognise phishing, avoid suspicious links and follow secure practices.
• Patch and Update Software - Keep all systems up-to-date with the latest security patches to reduce vulnerabilities.
• Strengthen Email Security - Add layers of protection, such as multi-factor authentication, to prevent unauthorised access.
• Improve Customer Support - A quick, responsive customer service team can help spot and mitigate issues quickly.
• Test Cyber Defences - Run regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address potential weaknesses.
• Develop a Contingency Plan - Have a clear, robust response plan in place for potential cyber incidents.

Staying Safe During the Festive Season

Don’t let the holidays turn into a time of risk. Proactively implementing new or enhanced cyber security measures helps protect both your organisation and your customers. By focusing on cyber security education and rigorous preventive measures, you’ll ensure your Christmas holiday period remains a cyber safe and secure one.

LoughTec are cyber security experts, if you want to find out more on how LoughTec can help protect your business, see a selection of our Solutions below. 

Click this link to find out more about Ransomware Protection.

Click this link to find out more about how much a cyber attack could potentially cost your business. 

Click this link to find out more about Security Operations Centre SOC 24-7-365 protection.