Current cyber threats at Christmas: How to protect yourself

In the run-up to Christmas, there is an increase in certain cyber threats that particularly target people who are bargain hunters or do their Christmas shopping at the last minute. Unfortunately, this not only results in spontaneous lucky finds, but also entails risks. The biggest dangers to watch out for when shopping online can be found here:

Fake shops: tempting offers with fatal consequences

Fake shops are a favorite tool of cybercriminals. These are fake online shops that are often displayed at the top of search engine results under “sponsored” or advertised on social media to lure customers into a trap. The fatal thing about these sites is that they often look exactly like the official sites of well-known retailers and entice customers with unbeatable bargains. The cybercriminals’ goal is to get consumers to place an order and pay for it with their credit cards. The money is collected, but the goods never arrive or are of inferior quality because the supposedly reputable shop does not actually exist. But that’s not all: the fraudsters also use the credit card data for further illegal transactions or even sell it on to others.

How to protect yourself:

• Only shop at well-known and trusted online stores.
• Be skeptical of stores that appear as ads in search engines.
• Check the information provided about the online shop, such as the name, address and contact details. Missing or incomplete information often indicates a fake shop.
• Compare prices and product descriptions with other shops. If something seems too good to be true, it often is.
• Use credit cards or payment services with buyer protection. Avoid payment methods without a chargeback option, such as advance payment or bank transfers.

So-called bargains in social media

In the run-up to Christmas, social media such as Facebook, Instagram or TikTok are particularly used to offer supposed trend products at bargain prices, which are often advertised by fake videos of celebrities or influencers. Dubious sellers want to trick consumers into clicking on a link that takes them to a website where the product can be purchased. After entering all the important data, buyers do receive the product they ordered, but they pay a high price. This is because your personal data can later be used for further fraud attempts, targeted advertising or manipulation.

How to protect yourself:

• Be careful when making purchases via social media, especially at unusually low prices.
• Only follow verified or trusted accounts on social media.
• Check the source, authenticity and timeliness of information before sharing it.
• Do not click on links or ads with unrealistically cheap offers.
• Never enter personal data on a website that you have reached via a social media link.

Phishing e-mails: enticements with malicious intent

Phishing e-mails are one of the most common cyber threats during the Christmas season. These fake e-mails appear to come from well-known online shops such as Amazon and often contain tempting gift ideas at attractive prices. By clicking on the offer link, potential buyers are taken directly to the shop’s registration page, which looks deceptively genuine but is in fact a fake. Anyone who falls for this and enters their access data and other sensitive information is not making a gift to their loved ones, but to criminals – because they use the information obtained to make purchases at the expense of unwitting users.

How to protect yourself:

• Do not open any emails from unknown or suspicious senders.
• Check the sender’s address, the subject line and the content of the email for spelling and grammar mistakes, as well as any other possible indications of forgery.
• Do not click on links or attachments in suspicious emails.
• Do not enter any personal data on websites that you have accessed via an email link.
• Are you unsure whether an email is genuine? Contact the sender via another channel, such as telephone or the official website.

Risks when buying used technology

Sustainability is important. That’s why many people decide to buy used electronics. However, there is a risk that technology-based second-hand hardware such as baby monitors and cameras or electronic toys have been tampered with. Cybercriminals can transfer the firmware – the so-called bridge between the hardware product and software functionality – of such devices to gain access to them and steal personal data.

Babies, who we protect like the apple of our eye, can be watched via baby monitor and camera. Even videos are recorded and sold, or the voice function of the baby monitor is activated and the babies are deliberately frightened.

How to protect yourself:

• Buy used technology, if possible, only from trusted sources.
• Update the firmware of used devices after purchase to ensure that no malicious software is installed.
• Keep your devices and software up to date by installing regular updates to close known security vulnerabilities.
• Use security software. These programs protect you from malicious websites and warn you before you visit dangerous sites.

Cyber attacks are a serious threat all year round, not just at Christmas time. However, with a little caution and common sense, anyone can protect themselves from most of these threats. Stay alert and keep up to date with current threats to avoid falling into the trap of cybercriminals. I hope these tips have helped you and that you can have a safe and happy Christmas.