Date
11 Dec 2023Category
Technology RiskWhile many businesses and individuals have been getting ready for Christmas parties, swapping Secret Santa presents and preparing for the festive break, cyber criminals are readying themselves for one of their busiest times in the year.
Although it’s always important to be on the lookout for potential phishing and ransomware campaigns, the holiday season provides a rich source of opportunities for cyber criminals to target organisations and individuals.
Reduced staff numbers, vulnerabilities within online systems and applications, and festive season stress provide the perfect environment for cyber criminals. Criminals will often look to take advantage of companies inadvertently dropping their guard at this time of year.
Just some examples of the methods cyber criminals use as a way of accessing data and stealing money include:
Recent high-profile cases at this time of year include the Guardian Media Group and Arnold Clark. Both these businesses fell victim to cyber attacks in December 2022, with personal data stolen and shared as a result.
In the run up to the festive period, organisations should take steps to help protect themselves and reduce the risk of a cyber attack on their systems, including:
If you have any questions in relation to cyber risks or what steps to take to help protect your organisation, please get in touch with your usual Azets advisor or a member of our specialist Cyber Services team.