Christmas is a time of giving, but don't accidentally give away too much!

I don't want to sound like the Grinch with the title of this article when I say don't give too much this Christmas, so let me explain a bit further.

Christmas is a time of giving and more people are using electronic cards and email to send Christmas messages, which makes it a prime time for cyber attacks as hackers take advantage of this time of goodwill.  They are banking on the fact that people will be more willing to open emails, click on links and accidently infect their machines. 

Remember, cyber criminals will be as active as Santa over the Christmas period so be careful.

They will use social engineering to find out people's contacts in various social networks, often focussing on old contacts that have not been in touch for a while, hoping it makes the recipient want to spark up a connection and open the email, or attachment, or click on a link.  They will use multiple ways of trying to compromise your security, they don't care about being on Santa's naughty list!

So here are a few top tips for staying safe this Christmas:

1. Beware the ‘Phishmas’ grinches - Not every Christmas email brings good tidings! Cyber scammers dress up their messages to look like trusted retailers or even “Santa’s Helpers.” Watch out for suspicious links, odd greetings, and spelling that’s more tangled than a box of old fairy lights. Never click unless you’re sure it’s safe—don’t let phishing spoil your holiday spirit
2. Shop like a wise Elf - Stick to well-known online shops when searching for that perfect gift. Make sure you see a padlock (🔒) and ‘https’ in your browser—your clue that it’s safe to enter payment details. And remember: public Wi-Fi is for carols, not for shopping! Save your online purchases for your secure home connection rather than a public Wi-Fi hotspot, there are often fake hotspots (called an evil twin) that hackers use to intercept your details
3. Don’t let fake deliveries steal Christmas - With sleighfuls of parcels en route, you might get texts about deliveries. But beware: cyber crooks send fake notifications with naughty links. If in doubt, dash directly to the official delivery website or app to check your parcel’s journey - no reindeer required
4. Social Media: Watch out for festive fakes - Not every festive competition or charity appeal is real, even if it comes with cute reindeer emojis. Don’t overshare or click on links from unknown sources. Spread holiday cheer, not your personal info
5. Trust Your Festive Instincts - If a Christmas offer seems too sparkly to be true, or you get a message that gives you the holiday heebie-jeebies, pause! Double-check before you act, and don’t let the Christmas rush jingle-bell your judgement
6. Give Your Devices the Gift of Updates - Update your computer(s), phone(s), tablet(s) and apps so they’re wrapped up tight against cyber threats. Turn on automatic updates and let your devices become as secure as Santa’s workshop

Wishing You a Safe & Merry Christmas

By following these festive tips, you can sleigh the cyber criminals and enjoy a Christmas filled with joy, laughter, and peace of mind.

Share the good word with friends and family, and have the happiest—and safest— techie Christmas ever.

If you want help with any of the tips, call us on 01722 411 999 and we will be your jolly little helpers.