Christmas - Time of Giving Gifts, not your data

Christmas is always a special time for millions of people around the world. This Christmas is a time for gift giving and spending more time with loved ones... but that does not stop cybercriminals from trying to get your data. In the first half of 2022, attacks increased 44% over the same date in 2021, according to Check Point Software's Mid-Year Report. On shopping dates such as Amazon Prime Day, attacks increase even more, reaching peaks of more than 35% compared to the average.

Christmas is also a special season for cybercriminals, as they take advantage of these shopping days to intensify their phishing attacks, ransomware, and even dropping malware into emails.

During this time of frenzied shopping for the perfect or last-minute Christmas gifts, cyberattacks are intensified with strategies ranging from creation of web pages that simulate those of another company, through phishing emails, impersonations, to ransomware attacks.

Check Point raises awareness among online gift shoppers to be cautious at all times and take the necessary precautions. The Threat Intelligence Report says, it was reported that India suffered an average of 1,783 attacks per organisation in the third quarter of 2022 and these attacks were expected to rise, moving forward with scams targeting not just organisations but also individuals, especially during the holiday season like Christmas.

The report outlines, Phishing is also a major player in Internet scams, and in the last quarter, DHL, the parcel delivery company, was the most impersonated company setting up shoppers for cybercrime. At a time when eCommerce is stronger than ever, it is necessary to be especially careful with messages from such invitations for amazing offers

In order for people to be able to shop securely and without any mishaps, Certain tips should be followed for a safe and secure shopping experience i.e., Always buy from an authentic and reliable source and be aware of similar domains.

Pls remember, offers that seem too good to be true will always be too good to be true. The most important thing is to always look for the lock. Secondly, have endpoint security solutions in place and always be on the lookout for password reset emails.

Cyberattacks continue to increase, especially more so around such special holiday seasons such as Christmas. Both ransomware and phishing are the order of the day for companies and individuals, so no one is exempt from danger.