Black Friday has become one of the biggest online shopping events of the year – who doesn't love a bargain? But with most retailers now extending their ‘unmissable' discounts until Cyber Monday, your employees are likely to be deal-hunting using work devices – making your business vulnerable to cyberattacks.
According to the government-led Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2023, around a third of UK businesses have experienced a cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months. Of those, 79% were affected by phishing – in this case, staff receiving fraudulent emails or being directed to fraudulent websites.
In a rush to find the best online offers, even the savviest shoppers are lured into Black Friday cyber-traps, revealing sensitive information without a second thought.
To protect your business this Black Friday, share this blog with your team for top tips on how to stay cyber-secure.
5 tips to staying cyber-safe this Black Friday
1. Look out for anything that seems a little ‘phishy'
Be extra cautious about emails that don't feel right. Cyber-crooks often use fake promotions or urgent messages to get your attention, so, before clicking any links, take a closer look.
If something feels off, it probably is. Phishers are notorious for impersonating well-known brands and retailers in their emails. They use brand logos, colours, and email layouts to make them look legit, but if they're emailing you from a Gmail account and asking for personal details – RED ALERT!
2. Avoid fake websites like the plague
Scammers often clone websites and defraud sale-searchers with ‘unbeatable' prices on popular items. The reality is – once payments are made – the item is never delivered and the scammer has their money and their personal data.
Moral of the story: stick with online stores you know and trust. To double check you're on a secure, authentic page, look for web addresses that start with "https://" and show a padlock icon in your browser. Only then can you guarantee that you're in safe territory.
3. Get serious about strong passwords
Although using the same password for every account is tempting, it's a recipe for disaster when it comes to keeping cybercriminals locked out. Using a password manager is a great way of managing multiple passwords securely, and all in one place.
And the same goes for weak passwords. Hackers can crack simple passwords in seconds using automated tools, which is why every password should be unique and contain a combination of letters, numbers and special characters.
4. Watch out for adverts and pop-ups
When surfing social media, it's easy to be lured in by an enticing Black Friday advert or pop-up ‘selling' the product you've had your eye on at a rock-bottom price. Chances are it's dodgy, my friend! By clicking on these, you could end up landing on a phishing site or downloading malware – leaving you open to data or identity theft, as well a potential victim of ransomware. No-one wants to have to pay a cyber-crook to unscramble their own data!
How do you avoid this scary stuff? Simply head to the brand's website and search for the deal you've seen. Case closed.
5. Make sure all software is updated
Black Friday is exciting, there's no doubt about it. But… before you set off on your online shopping spree, make sure your security software is up-to-date on your device. Those little windows that pop up telling us that there's a software update available for our computer… annoying, aren't they? But it's these updates that include crucial patches that address vulnerabilities that cybercriminals are keen to exploit.
If you don't update your system software, you run the risk of a cyber-attacker gaining control of your device, potentially losing your information and control.
The tools to stay cyber-aware on Black Friday
And there you have it! Five top tips on how to stay cyber-safe on one of the biggest online shopping campaigns of the year.
Still worried about your employees' use of company tech this Black Friday? Freaking out that your information security policies aren't robust enough to stop data breeches or cyberattacks in their tracks? It sounds like you need to boost your security posture with ISO 27001 certification.
Don't end up with more than you bargained for this Black Friday. Stay safe out there!
Author
Stuart Barker | Stuart is a cyber security expert known as the ISO 27001 Ninja, and author of the best-selling ISO 27001 Toolkit. He is Director at High Table, the ISO 27001 Company: https://hightable.io