They see you when you’re sleeping, they know when you’re awake, they’re cyber-criminals and they’re everywhere. No need to fear, cybersecurity is here with Part 2 of our 12 Days of Cybersecurity. Pour yourself a glass of eggnog, throw on your coziest slippers and enjoy these next six cybersecurity tips. And in case you missed it, you can check out Part 1 here.

7. Enchanting Emails
We get an influx of exciting emails during the holiday season, and it can be difficult to ignore a festive image promising incredible savings. That is why it’s important to know how to differentiate between legitimate emails and phishing emails and scams. Here is what to look for when you’re trying to spot a malicious email in your inbox this season:

  • Impersonal greeting
  • Odd formatting and incorrect grammar
  • Unsolicited links
  • Illegitimate sender
  • An offer too good to be true

8. Santa’s Safe Shopping
For many of us, Santa’s brick and mortar workshop has been replaced with the comfort and convenience of the internet. It’s easy to get lost while trying to find the perfect gifts for your loved ones that will arrive before the holiday. As a result, from your endless hours of online shopping, you might end up on some pretty questionable websites. Here are some tips from the jolly old fellow that could protect you this year:

  • Look for the «s» in «https»- that means it is secure
  • Avoid shops with a subdomain. For example, look for retailer.com not retailer.buy.com

9. Blissful Backups
Backups are the key to keeping everyone happy and practicing resilience this holiday season. Wouldn’t it be a shame to lose all of the photos you got of your toddler crying on Santa’s lap? Avoid this by keeping a current backup of all of your devices on an external hard drive or in cloud storage. This way if you happen to fall victim to a cyber attack and you lose your data, you’ll have an encrypted backup you can restore.

10. Seasonal Scams
Tis the season to be jolly and hyperaware of the accounts you may be signing up for or websites you’re visiting. There are seasonal scams everywhere during the holidays and it’s important to know what to look for in order to avoid them.

  • Make sure the website you’re visiting is legitimate
    It’s easy to make mock websites look like the real thing to trick users into providing personal information
  • Check the website URL
  • Look for «s» in https

11. Peaceful Privacy
Privacy settings are put in place for peace of mind, but YOUR privacy is not always a priority to other companies. Often specific privacy settings in your mobile device can leave your private information exposed and vulnerable.

  • Choose wisely what companies, apps, and social media sites have access to your private data
  • Be cautious of app tracking
  • Check your photo settings to see who has access and if they tag your geolocation

12. Embracing Education
Keep in mind that cybersecurity is a team effort, and you are only as protected as those around you. Embrace education this holiday season and year-round. Take time to discuss security efforts with your friends, family, and colleagues so they are aware of how to best protect their own privacy. By doing this you’re ensuring everyone has a happy holiday season!

Deck the halls with cybersecurity this holiday season! Our goal is to provide you with the tools and resources necessary to protect yourself and others while celebrating with loved ones. Happy Holidays!