Cybercriminals Don't Take Holidays
Summer is in full swing, and you're excited to have a long weekend to celebrate Independence Day. It'll be nice to kick back, take in the sun and relax on a well-deserved break from all the hard work you've been doing, but as you prepare to celebrate the 4th of July with family and friends, cyber-criminals are hard at work taking advantage of that vacation time. They'll be busy exploiting any vulnerabilities they can find which can leave the return to work more brutal than any hangover you might experience during the break.
Let's talk about what makes holidays so enticing to cyber-criminals and how you can prevent them from getting your data while away from work.
How cybercriminals take advantage of holidays
When many people are away from work on federal holidays, cyber-criminals take advantage of this by launching attacks that may be more difficult to detect. For example, surrounding 4th of July, cybercriminals may launch attacks that are timed to coincide with the holiday festivities. These attacks may be less conspicuous than normal and harder to investigate.
Another way that cybercriminals take advantage of people being away from work is by sending phishing emails that appear to be from trusted sources. These emails may include malicious attachments or links that can install malware on the victim's computer. By taking advantage of people being on vacation, cyber-criminals can often catch victims off guard and gain access to their systems without them knowing.
Sites that may be particularly vulnerable during federal holidays include those that are related to the holiday itself. For example, 4th of July celebrations may attract the attention of cybercriminals who are looking to exploit vulnerabilities in websites and applications related to the holiday. By targeting these sites, cybercriminals can cause widespread disruption and potentially access sensitive information.
Holiday-related attacks are often difficult to detect and may not be discovered until after the fact. This is why it's important for organizations to have strong security measures in place, as well as policies and procedures for investigating and responding to incidents. By being prepared, organizations can help mitigate the damages caused by holiday-related attacks and protect their systems and data.
What you can do to protect yourself from cyber-crime on federal holidays
If you know you'll be away from work for an extended time, be sure to take some precautions to protect yourself from cyber-crime. It's important to be vigilant and take steps to protect your devices and data.
Here are a few tips to help keep your data safe while away from work:
1. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication
Make sure your passwords are strong and unique and use two-factor authentication whenever possible. Update your passwords before leaving for the weekend. This can help make sure they are brand new and therefore harder to break into than older ones. Do not try and make it simple either just because you want your vacation to start faster. Make the necessary time to come up with a password or even better, a passphrase that will not be easily broken into.
2. Beware of phishing attacks
Even though you may be away from devices during the weekend, you may still be inundated with phishing emails and calls surrounding Independence Day. Criminals can track the things you do online to build a profile and use that information to send you scam emails or calls related to their findings., For example, if you post about going somewhere specific, criminals can use that to send you fake deals or offers from that location. It looks more authentic because you already know you're going there, which is just what criminals are relying on.
While it is important to relax and take your mind off things, it is still important to be suspicious of any emails or links that seem dubious or off, and never enter your password or other personal information into a web page that you don't trust. If you're not sure whether an email is legitimate, try hovering over the sender's name to see if the email address looks legitimate. The same goes for any links in an email. Don't click on any links in the email, and don't open any attachments unless you're absolutely sure they're safe. Proper IT training can help prepare you for what to look for, so you can easily spot the difference between a fake email and one that's legitimate.
3. Keep your devices with you
Over the long weekend, many people are going to be out of the office or just simply unavailable, including the IT department; they deserve a break too, after all. Because of this, if something were to happen, the response time may be longer than normal and timing is crucial when trying to recover data or to trace the steps back to how the criminals got access to vital information.
Therefore, if possible, bring your work laptop with you, so you can keep an eye on it. If you must leave it behind, make sure it's in a safe place where it won't be stolen or tampered with. Make sure there are procedures in place to allow people to store devices if they wish and only provide the location or access to someone that is 100% trustworthy. Anyone that doesn't need access should not be able to get to those devices.
4. Update your software
Install any security updates for your operating system and applications before you leave for vacation. This will help patch any vulnerabilities that could be exploited by cyber-criminals. Cyber-criminals love finding old software because it makes their job way easier. Despite always being on the move and adapting, cyber-criminals want to take the path of least resistance. Updating your security network and software around any holiday where people will be away is a good way to come back to a safe and secure device.
As you're enjoying your 4th of July vacation, criminals are going to be hard at work trying to take advantage of people's lack of attention. They're using this time to launch attacks and steal information. That means it's just as important to make sure to stay vigilant and protect yourself against cyber-crime while you're away from the office. If you can take the necessary steps to help prevent them from getting your data before you leave, you have a better chance of coming back to the office with your devices the same way you left them, and that's a pretty good way to come back from a holiday.
Kotman Technology has been delivering comprehensive technology solutions to clients in California and Michigan for nearly two decades. We pride ourselves on being the last technology partner you'll ever need. Contact us today to experience the Kotman Difference.