This time of year is notorious for bringing a wave of chaotic inboxes. Q4 brings rushed invoice processing, and distracted employees. Cybercriminals are fully aware of this seasonal shift, making the final months of the year the absolute prime season for phishing attacks. While your team is focused on closing out the year strong, hackers are betting that someone will click a malicious link without thinking.
The Early October Onset
It is a common misconception that holiday hacking begins around late November. In reality, Q4 targeted attacks start hitting business networks in October. Cybercriminals want to lay the groundwork early to catch you off guard before your operational defenses are fully prepared for the holiday rush.
The Top Three Holiday Cyber Scams
Let’s go over some of the specific scams your organization will inevitably encounter this season:
- Fake Shipping and Tracking Links: As office gift exchanges and client presents start rolling out, employees naturally expect package notifications. Hackers send highly convincing emails mimicking major couriers. Clicking the enclosed tracking link often downloads malware or directs the user to a fake login portal designed to steal corporate credentials.
- Fraudulent Vendor Invoices: End-of-year accounting is stressful. Attackers exploit this rush by sending fake invoices from known vendors or spoofing the email addresses of your partners. They will claim that payment details have changed and urgently request wire transfers, aiming to intercept your outgoing payments before the new year.
- The Emergency Gift Card Text: This classic social engineering tactic spikes heavily during the holidays. An employee will receive a text message supposedly from the CEO or a senior executive. The message usually claims the executive is stuck in a meeting, cannot talk, and desperately needs the employee to buy several digital gift cards for a fast-approaching client event.
How to Secure Your Network Now
Defending your network requires a mix of technical safeguards and human awareness. Now is the time to remind your staff to slow down. Establish strict verification protocols for any changes to vendor payment information, such as requiring a voice call to a known phone number. Furthermore, encourage a workplace culture where employees feel completely comfortable verifying unusual, urgent requests from executives. Do not wait until the seasonal rush is in full swing to protect your data.
