Why Do Holiday Scams Spike in December? Have You Ever Been a Victim? The festive season sees a sharp rise in cybercrime, with phishing attacks alone surging by 70%. In 2023, global cybercrime losses surpassed a staggering $10 billion — and this number is expected to rise during the holiday rush. Are you part of these statistics? Don’t let cybercriminals ruin your holiday cheer. In this week’s #ThoughtfulThursday, our Information Security Consultant, Ashraf Mohamed, shares 7 simple steps to stay safe online this festive season. Learn about common holiday scams, how to spot them, and how to protect both yourself and your business. Stay alert, stay safe, and enjoy a scam-free holiday season. Download the Full PDF Article here - https://lnkd.in/dAbzPhAy
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Did you know that hackers can go to an online marketplace and buy all manner of compromised user accounts? Just browse through what's available, pick out the ones they want, and check out. They can even pay more to get ones that are the freshest (most recently stolen). Now, you might be thinking, "Sure... but those are probably old usernames and passwords which have been changed over time," and you're right, but hackers are more sophisticated and capable nowadays, so what they do with this information is they spread out an attack to use a vast number of compromised devices as proxies. They use these devices to try every combination of those usernames and passwords, not only for the specific website, app, or service they were stolen from, but for everything. This is called a 'credential stuffing' attack, and they are happening with an alarming level of regularity these days. So, how do we protect ourselves from things like credential stuffing attacks? Well, one of the easiest ways is to enable Multi Factor Authentication - in that case, even compromised credentials cannot, compromise your entire account. For businesses, the more you can do to consolidate, modernize, and simplify the way your users work and interact with your data and applications, the more securable you can make your environment, and the easier it becomes to protect your users and help them to protect themselves. Learn more about the way you can protect yourself from online threats here: https://lnkd.in/ebEBkn2u #security #MFA #dataprotection
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🎄 Cybersecurity Tips for the Holiday Season We’re all about cyber safety that’s why we had to share this article by Pennsylvania Family Business Trust because it highlights a critical issue: cybersecurity during the holiday season. While we enjoy shopping, connecting, and celebrating, cybercriminals are hard at work. Protecting your devices, data, and finances has never been more important! Here are our favorite tips, inspired by the article, to keep you safe this season: Stay Secure Online with These Tips: Keep Your Devices Updated: Ensure your smartphone, computer, and apps have the latest security patches. Use Trusted Wi-Fi Only: Avoid public, password-free networks. Stick to secure connections. Monitor Finances: Regularly check your bank accounts and credit reports for suspicious activity. Beware of Phishing: Verify email senders before clicking on links, especially for online orders or e-greeting cards. WICTRA’s Extra Cybersecurity Tips: 🛍️ Shop Smart: Stick to trusted retailers, and look for "https" in the URL. 🎁 Avoid Giveaway Scams: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Stay vigilant, informed, and safe while enjoying the holiday cheer. Learn more details by @pfbt here: https://lnkd.in/dtKNA9N Wisconsin Cyber Threat Response Alliance #TechTipTuesday #Cybersecurity #WICTRA #StaySafeOnline
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December is Here, So Are Cyber Scammers. It’s holiday season, and while you’re planning gifts and celebrations, scammers are busy planning their next move. Here’s how to stay ahead: 1. Use strong passwords. Avoid things like “123456” or your name. Create something only you can guess. Use 4lphanum3rik 2. Turn on two-factor authentication. It’s like having a backup plan to keep your accounts safe. 3. Be careful with holiday deals. Scammers love sending fake “sales” links. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. 4. Update your devices. Old software makes it easier for hackers to break in. 5. Don’t trust public Wi-Fi. If you’re out shopping or traveling, use your mobile data or a VPN for anything important. Stay safe while you enjoy the season. Let’s end the year without falling for their tricks. #Cybersecurity #OnlineSafety #HolidayScams #ProtectYourData #StaySafeOnline
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🛡️ Cyber Prepper Alert: Stay Ready & Secure This Election Season 🛡️ With the election cycle in full swing, it’s a critical time to be both cyber-aware and prepared for anything. As a Cyber Prepper, I’m here to share tips that’ll keep you secure online and prepared at home. Remember – listen to your gut and stay ready! 🔒 1. Stay Cyber-Secure Verify Before Sharing: Misinformation is everywhere. Before you share election updates, double-check the source. Secure Your Devices: Keep software up to date and enable two-factor authentication to protect against hackers. Watch for Phishing Scams: Scammers prey on emotions. Be cautious of emails and messages asking for personal information. 🧭 2. Be Prepared at Home Stock Up on Essentials: Have at least a week’s supply of food, water, and basic items. Disruptions can happen fast, so prepare now. Keep Cash On Hand: In case ATMs go down or cards can’t be used, having cash gives you flexibility. Plan Your Routes: Keep your vehicle fueled and know alternate routes in case you need to leave quickly. Staying secure is about more than just your online activity – it’s about whole-life preparedness. Trust your instincts, stay informed, and protect yourself and those around you. Together, we can face anything with confidence. #CyberPrepper #StaySecure #ListenToYourGut
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Storing passwords or credit card info in your browser? It’s convenient, but risky. Browsers aren’t designed for security, leaving your data vulnerable to anyone with access to your device or malware. The smarter move? Use a password manager like LastPass or 1Password. These encrypt your data, generate strong passwords, and add layers of protection with two-factor authentication. Take a minute to switch to a password manager and delete your saved browser info. A small effort now can save you from major headaches later. Want more details? Click the blog and lock down your digital life before it’s too late. https://zurl.co/yoQL
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Did you know that most hackers target small businesses? Yeah, we were shocked too 😲 But you don’t have to be an easy target. Save this article and learn how to protect your business 🔒 https://lnkd.in/egdMNT9y #HackerDefense #SmallBusinessTips #HackerHelp
Is Your Business an Easy Target for Hackers?
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The holiday season seems to already be in full swing and those seasonal drinks ☕ like pumpkin spice and apple crisp have taken over the shelves. But we highly recommend not letting them take over your #passwords. While it can be easy to tie what feels like countless passwords to current trends, topics and news, what may be easy for you to remember is easy for a criminal to crack and use for nefarious activities like #ATO and #fraud. SpyCloud compiles a list of some trending seasonal topics frequently to see what has been exposed on the criminal underground and we encourage you to update your password to something more complex and unique if you happen to see an exposed plaintext baseword here: https://bit.ly/41vEnfy. ✨ Make the end of 2024 merry and bright by protecting yourself and your organization from the cyber risks associated with compromised passwords.
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Hey there small business owners! If you're using social media, remember that data protection and security are key! 🛡️🔒 Make sure you're keeping your customers' personal information safe by using strong passwords, activating two-factor authentication, and educating your team about phishing scams. But don't worry, we've got your back! Plenty of resources and tools are available to help you navigate the digital landscape safely. So stay proactive and keep your customers' trust intact! 💪👩💼 #DataProtection #SecurityMatters #SmallBusinessTips #SocialMediaSecurity Check out our blog to learn more: https://bit.ly/48CWrag
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🚨 How Hackers Really Get In – And How to Stop Them! 🚨 Hackers aren’t always masterminds—they often rely on simple mistakes like weak passwords. Here’s the deal: 🔑 Passwords to Avoid ❌ “password” (seriously, don’t) ❌ Your name, your kid’s name, or birthdays ❌ Adding “123” or “!” at the beginning or end Hackers use algorithms to test these common combos until they crack it! 😱 💡 Pro Tips for Strong Passwords: ✅ Use a mix of upper & lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. ✅ Create unique passwords for each platform. ✅ Use a password manager to keep track of them all. Stay ahead of the game, and don’t let hackers in the easy way! 💪 👉 Share this post to help others protect themselves. #CyberSecurityTips #PasswordSafety #StaySecure
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Happy New Month and Happy Monday from Lassod Consulting! 🌟 As we kick off this new month on a Monday, let's take a moment to prioritise our digital security. Did you know that: - 30,000 websites are hacked every day? - 64% of companies have experienced a data breach? - Cybercrime costs the global economy over $6 trillion annually? Don’t be the next victim. Protect your digital world with these simple steps: - Use strong, unique passwords - Enable two-factor authentication - Keep your business software up-to-date - Be cautious with emails and links - Use a reputable antivirus Invest in your online security today to avoid financial loss, reputation damage, and legal liability. Stay safe and secure online! Let’s make this month not only productive but also cyber-safe. Here’s to a secure and successful month ahead! #LassodConsulting #HappyNewMonth #HappyMonday #CyberSecurity #OnlineSafety #ProtectYourData #BeCyberSafe
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CoFounder Sentinel Africa Consulting
3wVery timely and informative Ashraf Mohamed. It is usually the simple stuff that gets us. I use haveibeenpwnd as well. Good tool!