The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an advisory calling for increased consumer vigilance as malicious actors attempt to take advantage of unsuspecting holiday shoppers through malicious links, fake websites and other forms of cybercrime.
The CISA outlined a handful of preventative actions for consumers, including checking personal devices, shopping from trusted sources, using safe purchasing methods and following basic cybersecurity hygiene like multifactor authentication (MFA).
The CISA and the FBI also released guidance aimed at helping organizations improve their security posture during the holiday season, when cybercriminals are out in force looking to deploy malicious software, steal identities and hijack bank accounts.
Holiday Shopping Security
Joseph Harris, vice president of intelligence collection management at Intel 471, explained there are several pitfalls that can impact consumers seeking a bargain over the holiday shopping season, including offers that are too good to be true.
“Malicious actors are quite adept at copying legitimate trading practices to portray an offer that seems amazing and viable at first glance but is intended to distract customers from being as careful as they might otherwise be,” he said.
He said the old adage holds true: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. “Any time there is an offer that seems to be too good to be true, your guard should be up and you should seek to trust but verify…
