5 Phishing Attacks to Look for During the Holidays

Around the holidays, shipping information, order confirmations, and e-Cards from family and friends clog up inboxes everywhere. Attackers use the flood of emails to their advantage by sending clever phishing attacks via emails meant to catch targets off guard. Cyberattacks increase throughout the holiday season, including phony charity websites and malware e-Cards.

Phishing Attacks, What to Look Out For

Shipping Updates

Every year during the holidays, there are more fake shipping notifications. People could be more likely to click a link concerning a status update or a failed delivery because so many online orders are dispatched. It is advised to browse the website directly and enter the tracking number even if the message appears to be legitimate. Use the phone number provided on a shipping company’s website to call them for assistance.

Fake Order Confirmations

Attackers also profit on the rise in year-end online sales brought on by Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the two busiest shopping days of the year. You might be more inclined to click a purchase confirmation link from your preferred business during this busy period. Observe your purchases so you’ll know what emails to anticipate.

Holiday e-Cards

Sending e-Cards with harmful attachments is another common trick used by cybercriminals. Never click a link in an e-Card that seems malicious, even if it looks great!

Charity Phishing Scams

Phishers often impersonate charities and send emails asking for year-end donations. Before entering personal information and making a donation, ensure that the site is legitimate and you recognize the domain. Also, ensure the URL shows “https://”, indicating that the connection is secure.

Unsolicited Offers and Deals

Email inboxes are flooded with messages advertising amazing sales and specials throughout the holidays. For Phishing attacks, attackers frequently use end-of-year freebies and competitions to lure employees. It is advised to browse the retailer’s website, confirm if the offer is legitimate and shop there directly. Remember: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Did You Know?

Without clicking, you may safely determine where a link leads:
Desktop (Windows and OS X): To see the URL, place your pointer over the link.

Cellular phones (Android, iOS, and Windows):
In order to bring up a pop-up menu, touch and hold the link.

Quick Tips

• Reconsider. Be skeptical of offers that look too good to be true and carefully read your emails.
• Make shopping websites bookmarks. Search engines should not be used to discover offers. Use trusted shopping sites to lessen the risk of landing on a malicious phishing scheme.
• Take note of the domain name. Some attackers alter domains to surprise targets. The phishers may register “examp1e.com” or “example.co” if the actual domain was, for instance, www.example.com.
• Always make sure. Before responding, be sure the email is coming from a legitimate source. To ensure it is genuine, contact the sender through phone or email.

Conclusion

Phishing attacks are a serious threat, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself. Be wary of any emails or text messages that ask for personal information, and never click on links in emails from senders you don’t know. You can also use a strong password manager to help you create and store secure passwords for all of your online accounts. Additionally, you can enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your online accounts, which adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to enter a code from your phone in addition to your password when you log in. By following these tips, you can help to protect yourself from phishing attacks and keep your personal information safe.

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