With Black Friday and Cyber Monday rapidly approaching, cybersecurity risks are set to skyrocket. A recent Sophos report revealed that malicious emails were the second most common cause of ransomware attacks in critical sectors, accounting for a staggering 25% of cases. As online shopping surges during peak shopping days, the potential for cyberattacks increases significantly.
Why the Risk is Higher
As employees may be more inclined to shop online from work devices, the risk of clicking on malicious links or falling victim to phishing attacks rises. This heightened vulnerability can expose your organization to significant security threats.
Safeguard Your Organization
To mitigate these risks, encourage your team to follow these simple best practices:
- Enhanced Browser Security:
- Ad Blockers: Utilize ad-blocking extensions like uBlock Origin or Ghostery to prevent malicious ads and improve browsing speed.
- Privacy Browsing: Employ incognito or private browsing modes to block tracking cookies and safeguard your online activities.
- Privacy-Focused Browsers: Consider using privacy-oriented browsers like Firefox or Brave, which offer built-in privacy features.
- Account Security:
- Unique Account Credentials: Avoid using the same credentials across multiple websites. Create strong, unique passwords for each account.
- Guest Logins: Utilize guest login options when available to minimize the need for account creation and reduce personal data exposure.
- Limited Payment Information: Avoid saving credit card details on e-commerce sites. Use temporary or one-time use card numbers for added security.
- Smart Online Shopping:
- Verified Retailers: Shop from reputable, well-established online retailers to minimize the risk of fraudulent activities.
- Scrutinize Deals: Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true. Verify the authenticity of offers before clicking any links.
- Beware of Phishing Emails: Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown senders.
By implementing these security measures, you can significantly reduce your organization’s vulnerability to cyber threats during the holiday shopping season.