Hackers Don’t Take Holidays! How to Protect Your Business From Cyber Attack This Festive Season

Cybercriminals are well aware that many businesses operate with reduced staffing levels during the holidays, leaving them more vulnerable to threats. Small and medium-sized business owners should be especially vigilant against the surge in cyberattacks that often occurs during this festive time.

In this TECHsperts Insights Guide we’ll look at some examples of common cyber crimes committed during this period. Plus, we suggest nine best practices you should deploy as part of your end-of-year tech strategy.

“Every year, thousands of people become victims of holiday scams. Scammers can rob you of hard-earned money, personal information, and, at the very least, a festive mood.”

‘Common Frauds and Scams: Holiday Scams’ — www.fbi.gov

While the end of the year should be an opportunity for you to kick back and relax, it’s unfortunately also a time when hackers are more active than ever: with people shopping online, traveling, and using public Wi-Fi more frequently, there are ample opportunities for these bad actors to steal sensitive information.

In general, you need to be on the lookout for the following:

• Phishing scams are prevalent, exploiting the influx of emails and websites offering deals and promotions. Hackers disguise phishing attempts as shipping notifications, e-cards, and fake shopping deals to trick individuals into revealing personal information.
• Ransomware attacks also surge during this period as businesses are occupied with holiday operations, making them more vulnerable. Cybercriminals exploit known system vulnerabilities, especially when IT teams are short-staffed.
• Business email compromise (BEC) scams pose another significant threat, targeting businesses with fraudulent invoices and payment requests amidst the holiday rush.

Be aware of these specific holiday hacking examples:

One alarming tactic is the ‘Evil Twin’ attack, where hackers set up rogue Wi-Fi networks that mimic legitimate ones, tricking unsuspecting employees into connecting and exposing sensitive data. This kind of attack can easily occur in public spaces where employees might be working remotely, taking breaks — or traveling to a holiday destination.

Other prevalent holiday-period cyber dangers include online shopping scams such as non-delivery (where goods are paid for via online transactions, but the items are never received), and non-payment (where goods or services purchased through online transactions are shipped, but payment is never received for them). Other digital scams include online auction fraud (where sites misrepresent items purchased on auction), and gift card fraud (when a buyer is invited to pay with a pre-paid ‘gift’ card).

Also important to consider is the seemingly innocuous act of setting an ‘Out of Office’ email reply, which can inadvertently invite trouble. While it informs clients, employees, colleagues and partners of your absence, it also signals to cybercriminals that your defenses are down.

Automated replies can be exploited to launch targeted phishing attacks, as attackers may use this information to craft messages that appear legitimate.

Overall, to secure work environments during the holidays — especially when remote work is being done — businesses should, at the very least, implement these three crucial steps:

• Enforce the use of corporate VPNs: A VPN encrypts internet traffic and protects privacy, which is essential when employees use public Wi-Fi while traveling or working remotely.
• Mandate encryption for all devices: Encrypting all devices used for work purposes helps safeguard sensitive information from unauthorized access, especially if a device is lost or stolen.
• Prohibit the use of public Wi-Fi for sensitive work: Public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured, making them prime targets for cybercriminals seeking to intercept data. Encourage employees to use secure networks or mobile hotspots for work-related activities.

As a business owner, understanding these kinds of risks is crucial to safeguarding your company’s data and reputation during the holiday season.

Here are nine more detailed best practices that will help you and your business stay safe online during the holidays:

1. Employee Training and Awareness

• Conduct regular cybersecurity awareness training sessions, specifically highlighting holiday-specific threats like phishing emails disguised as shipping notifications, e-card scams, and fake holiday shopping deals.
• Train employees to be extra vigilant about unsolicited emails, suspicious links, and unexpected attachments during this high-risk period.
• Empower employees to verify unusual requests, such as changes in payment details or wire transfers, to prevent falling victim to cyberattacks.
• Educate employees on how to recognize phishing attempts and suspicious links to prevent initial access points for ransomware.

2. System and Software Security

• Ensure all devices, software, and systems are running the latest security updates. Cybercriminals often exploit known vulnerabilities, especially during busy holiday periods when IT teams might be short-staffed. Set up automatic updates where possible and conduct a comprehensive system review before the holiday season begins.
• Regularly update all operating systems, applications, and security software. Regular updates patch vulnerabilities that could be exploited by ransomware.

3.Strong Authentication and Access Control

• Require multi-factor authentication for all business and personal accounts. This adds an extra layer of security beyond passwords, making it significantly harder for unauthorized users to access sensitive information. Use authenticator apps or hardware tokens instead of SMS-based authentication for enhanced protection.
• Review and restrict administrative and high-level system access. Implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring employees only have access to the systems and data necessary for their work. Create a detailed access log and monitor for any unusual activities, especially during the holiday season when typical work patterns change.

4. Secure Remote Work Practices

• With many employees working remotely or traveling during the holidays, ensure secure connections through:
• Enforce strong security protocols, such as using VPNs and ensuring secure access methods, to protect company data from potential breaches if employees work remotely.

5. Data Protection and Backups

• Create comprehensive, encrypted backups of all critical business and personal data. Store backups in multiple locations, including offline and cloud-based storage. Test your backup and recovery processes to ensure you can quickly restore systems if a cyberattack occurs.
• Encrypt sensitive customer information both in transit and at rest. Ensure compliance with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) to safeguard customer trust during increased transactions.
• Back up critical data regularly and follow the 3-2-1 backup rule (three copies of data, two different media types, one offsite). This ensures that you can restore your data without paying a ransom if an attack occurs.

6. Proactive Security Measures

• Implement robust endpoint protection solutions that go beyond traditional antivirus software. Look for tools with:
• Set up monitoring tools to detect suspicious activities within your network. Utilize Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) software for real-time anomaly detection and response.
• Implement network segmentation to limit the spread of ransomware within your organization. By isolating critical systems from less secure areas, you can contain potential breaches more effectively.
• Invest in security monitoring solutions to detect unusual activities within your network. This proactive approach can help identify threats before they escalate into full-blown attacks.
• Perform thorough risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities within your systems and processes. Addressing these weaknesses can significantly reduce the chances of a successful attack.
• Perform a thorough assessment of your cybersecurity measures before the holiday season begins. Identify vulnerabilities through penetration testing and vulnerability scans to address weaknesses proactively.

7. Vendor and Supply Chain Security

• Scrutinize all communications from third-party vendors during the holiday rush to avoid business email compromise scams. Verify invoices and payment requests to ensure their legitimacy.
• Ensure that all third-party vendors follow strong cybersecurity practices. Supply chain vulnerabilities can lead to ransomware attacks, so verify their security measures before engaging with them.

8. Incident Response Planning

• Create a comprehensive incident response plan specifically tailored to holiday-season cyber risks. This plan should include:
• Create a well-defined plan detailing how to respond to cyber incidents. Ensure that all team members know their roles in the event of a breach, which can minimize damage and downtime during critical periods.
• Create a comprehensive incident response plan that outlines steps to take in the event of a ransomware attack. This should include identifying the attack’s extent, isolating affected systems, and communicating with stakeholders.
• Regularly conduct tabletop exercises or simulations to test your incident response plan. This practice helps ensure that your team is prepared and knows their roles during an actual attack.

9. Additional Considerations

• Divide your network into separate segments to limit potential breach impacts. Adopt a zero-trust security model that requires verification for every access attempt, regardless of whether it originates from inside or outside your network. This approach significantly reduces the potential damage from a successful cyberattack.
• Consider purchasing cyber insurance that covers holiday-season specific risks and provides support in case of a significant security breach.

By implementing these best practices, you can significantly reduce your vulnerability to cyberattacks during the holiday season, protecting both your business and personal digital assets.

Access our free resources to learn how to protect your business effectively

Keep this vital advice handy by downloading our convenient Holiday Season IT Protection Cybersecurity Checklist so you can ensure an enjoyable holiday break, knowing that your data and your business’s precious resources are secure.

Our TECHsperts Insights ‘TRUTALK: Technically Speaking’ podcast also gives you a convenient way to learn on the go about securing your data from bad actors at this especially risky time of year. You can listen to the 20-minute deep dive on the topic here.

We know all about the types of dangers out there. We’ve been helping to keep businesses safe in the Bay Area, Silicon Valley and beyond for the past 30 years, so you can trust that we have your back.

How vulnerable is your organization? Take our Cyber Threat Quiz to find out, or contact us if you have any other questions.

Stay safe! Be hypervigilant against increased cyber threats this Christmas season. Wishing you Happy Holidays from the Tru Technical Team!