The holidays are a time for family, friends, and celebration. But they are also a time when your personal information is most at risk. Cybercriminals take advantage of the holiday season to try and steal your data and money.
This is why it’s more important than ever to be aware of cybersecurity risks and take steps to protect yourself during the holidays. Here, we will discuss 5 cybersecurity tips to remember during the holidays.
Cybersecurity is More Important Than Ever During the Holiday Season
The holiday season is a great time for cybercriminals. This is because, more than ever before, people are shopping online and entering their personal information into websites without considering the risks.
Cybercriminals know that this time of year, customers have an increased demand for online services. They also know that people are more likely to be in a rush and may not take the necessary steps to protect their information.
As a result, it’s important to be aware of cybersecurity risks and stay vigilant while using your personal information online during the holidays.
5 Cybersecurity Tips to Keep in Mind During the Holiday Season
It’s more important than ever to be aware of cybersecurity risks and take steps to protect yourself during the holidays. Here are five tips!
1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
First of all, there is a lot of lingo that comes with talking about cybersecurity. It is important to have a good idea of what certain words and phrases mean when joining this conversation.
MFA is a security measure that requires two or more components to authorize access – usually, something you know (a PIN or code), something you have (a security key or app), and something you are (biometrics like face ID or fingerprint). By enabling MFA on accounts and services, you can ensure that it is not just one account password preventing your personal data from getting into the wrong hands.
2. Only Input Personal Information in Trusted Sites
It is important to only input personal information such as credit/debit card numbers, addresses, and Social Security numbers on trusted sites. To ensure you are visiting a secure website look for “https” at the beginning of the address and make sure you trust the organization.
3. Beware of Phishing
Cybercriminals may try to steal your personal information by sending phishing emails disguised as genuine and legitimate messages, so be sure to exercise caution when dealing with any suspicious emails.
Over 15 billion phishing emails are passed through the internet every day with 83% of organizations saying they experienced phishing attacks in 2021. Look for inconsistencies in the email address, spelling/grammar errors, or requests for sensitive information such as usernames and passwords.
4. Update Software
Outdated software can potentially leave you more vulnerable to malicious attacks, so make sure to keep all of your devices up-to-date with the latest security patches. Outdated software is a major source of network insecurity.
Partner with ISG to Boost Your Cybersecurity
With cybersecurity being a larger threat than ever and hackers constantly innovating and getting more sophisticated—protecting and preparing your business is a massive responsibility. Managed Security through a cybersecurity partner has become more of a necessity.
ISG Technology’s fully managed security solution protects networks from existing and future cybersecurity threats. With ISG as your cybersecurity partner, we allow you to focus on your business as we take care of its cybersecurity.
By taking the time to understand these tips, you can better protect yourself and feel fully safe during this holiday season and beyond. Contact us today to make sure your business is equipped and secured with the right cybersecurity partner you need for your business.