Published on 12 November 2021
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are traditionally large retail sales that happen every year in the USA, Online sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become key shopping dates not just in the USA but also in the UK, where they have gained immense popularity. While these events offer fantastic deals, they also come with significant cybersecurity risks.
On Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there are a variety of excellent deals and sales that many of us want to take advantage of, but it is important to keep vigilant against any potential cyber-attacks or scams. Cybercriminals often target shoppers who are more focused on getting a bargain than paying attention to who they are sharing their details with. Around this time, there is typically a surge in phishing campaigns, making it a high-risk period for online shoppers and businesses alike.
Let’s pay particular attention to Cyber Monday. As it’s hosted on a Monday, it’s more than likely that your employees will be hunting for the best deals at work. This has the potential to make your company’s network and data vulnerable to cyberattacks. Cybercriminal activity increases around this time of year when your employees’ guard is down as they’re focused on finding the best holiday gifts at discounted prices.
Unfortunately, you cannot monitor your employees around the clock to make sure they are not sales-hunting, but what you can do is share this blog with them. This blog will outline some great tips on how to keep your business and employees secure this Cyber Monday.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday have transformed into global shopping events, not just in the US but also in the UK. With incredible online deals, it’s no wonder that millions flock to online stores in search of bargains. But this spike in online shopping activity makes it a prime opportunity for cybercriminals to strike.
During Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the sheer volume of online transactions surges. With retailers offering once-a-year discounts, consumers are often more focused on snapping up deals than on scrutinising the security of the websites they visit. This creates a lucrative window for cybercriminals.
Shoppers are hurriedly entering their payment information and sharing personal details across multiple platforms, which can be a goldmine for hackers. Whether it’s fake websites, misleading ads, or cleverly disguised phishing emails, cybercriminals take full advantage of the frantic shopping atmosphere, knowing that vigilance is often lower during these peak shopping periods.
Even businesses are at higher risk. Many employees shop during working hours, often using work devices or networks, which makes company data and systems more vulnerable to attacks. This increased exposure makes Black Friday and Cyber Monday not just exciting shopping events, but also high-risk periods for cybersecurity threats.
Your employees are often the most significant risk to your company’s network and data. A large number of cyber-attacks occur due to phishing attacks, and human error remains a common factor in these breaches. Employees who are more focused on hunting for bargains may inadvertently fall for phishing attempts, especially if they connect personal devices to your business network.
This is particularly concerning if your employees have connected their personal devices to your business network or your business uses a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) strategy. Without proper cyber security measures in place, it will be easy for cybercriminals to gain access to your network and data once they have accessed your employee’s devices.
The best way to prevent a cyber security breach from a phishing scam this Cyber Monday is to ensure all your staff are up to date on their cyber security training. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has effective training programmes available for you to use. Implementing one of these training courses the week before Cyber Monday keeps the tactics fresh in your employees’ minds.
Ensure all employees’ devices and software are up to date before Cyber Monday. Software updates are key to protecting employees’ devices and customer data from known cyber threats. Ensure all devices have an antivirus installed and this will provide added safety to your business’s network during this year’s Cyber Monday sales.
It’s also critical to ensure that all devices have reliable antivirus software installed. Antivirus programs add an extra layer of protection, helping to block malware and other cyber threats that could compromise your business network during busy shopping periods.
Public Wi-Fi (like the ones in airports or coffee shops) can be accessed by anybody, even the most novice cybercriminals can easily access your employee’s device if they are on the same Wi-Fi network. Most public Wi-Fis are unsecured and unencrypted meaning any personal details or payment information input while using it has the potential to be accessed by criminals. Cybercriminals can use public Wi-Fi to spread malware to your device allowing them unrestricted access to all the data on that device.
You should already have something in place to protect your employee’s devices when they are using public Wi-Fi, such as a VPN. However, you must also remind your employees to be vigilant if they’re going to use public Wi-Fi to shop on Cyber Monday. Again, this is particularly important if your business uses a BYOD strategy.
This time of year sees a surge in cybercriminal activity so make sure you update your cyber security policies. Ensure you have robust policies in place to respond quickly if you experience a cyber breach or attack. Set up security monitoring to catch any abnormal activity over Cyber Monday to prevent or slow down a cyber security attack.
Cyber Monday may be an excellent time to get deals for you and your employees, but it’s essential as a business owner that you ensure your employees are vigilant through this sale season. Ensure employees’ devices and software are up to date and double-check that your cyber security policies are robust. Most importantly check if your employees have kept up with their cyber security training and inform them of the increase in cybercriminal activity around this time of year.
Are you concerned about your employees’ use of their devices this Cyber Monday? Or that your cyber security policies do not cover Cyber Monday breaches and attacks? Contact us today to discuss the policies Bluebell IT Solutions can put in place to keep your business and its data safe this Holiday Season with our cyber security services.
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