Hacking Your Holiday: How to Protect Yourself From Cyber Criminals This Holiday Season

Summary: During the holiday season, it is important to maintain awareness of the many threats posed by cyber criminals while shopping online and in stores. The National Retail Federation estimates that Americans will exceed last year’s holiday spending to total between $717-720 billion between November and December. As the popularity of online shopping continues to increase, so does the number of potential unsuspecting victims for cyber criminals to exploit. Scammers may target victims through a variety of methods, including via phone calls, text messages, emails, compromised websites, or unsecured Wi-Fi networks. This week, one of our cyber threat analysts at the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) discusses proactive steps to reduce your risk and make it harder for cyber criminals to succeed this holiday season.