How to protect yourself from cyber threats during the holiday season: 10 practical tips

The holiday season is a period of increased activity by cybercriminals who exploit the vulnerabilities of people and companies to attack them and steal their data and, of course, money.

The editors of NEWS.am Tech present several recommendations that will help you protect yourself and your data:

1. Be careful with emails and links

• Avoid phishing: be vigilant with emails and messages containing urgent offers, delivery notifications or holiday promotions. Do not open suspicious links and attachments.
• Check senders: make sure that the email address from which you received the letter is genuine: scammers often use addresses similar to real ones.

2. Shop on trusted sites

• Choose reputable sellers: For any purchases, use reputable sites with a secure connection (look for “https://” and a lock icon in the URL).
• Avoid public Wi-Fi: Use a VPN for protection if you shop online outside of your home.

3. Strengthen your passwords

• Create strong passwords: Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA): Add an extra layer of protection.

4. Update your devices and software

• Update your software: Regular updates help fix many vulnerabilities.
• Use antivirus software: It will help better protect your device.

5. Monitor your finances

• Check your statements: Regularly monitor transactions and immediately report suspicious transactions to your bank.
• Turn on spending alerts: Many banks allow you to receive notifications about unusual activity.

6. Beware of holiday scams

• Fake charities: Check the information about the charity before making a donation.
• Too good of an offer: Remember that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

7. Protect your personal information

• Don’t share too much personal information on social media.
• ​​Avoid pop-ups: These may be attempts to install malware.

8. Back up your data

• Create backups: Use cloud storage or external drives to protect your data from ransomware.

9. Educate your loved ones

• Educate your family and friends: Help them recognize scams and follow safety rules. This is especially important for children and the elderly, who are very vulnerable to scams.

10. Protect your devices when traveling

• Use passwords and biometric locks to protect phones, tablets, and laptops when traveling.
• Don't keep Bluetooth on: Turn it off when not in use to avoid unauthorized connections.