Top tips to protect yourself from holiday hackers

Posted on Monday November 28, 2022

As you focus on meeting the needs of holiday shoppers or taking time off to be with loved ones, hackers are looking to exploit any vulnerabilities in your business’s system. Keep these tips in mind to ward off hackers so you can fully enjoy this festive season.

Change passwords frequently

Change your business passwords every three months, at the bare minimum. Make sure these passwords are complex and not connected to any timely or popular events, occurrences, people, and activities that are easy to guess. If you find it difficult to manage multiple passwords, try using a secure password manager. It will help you create strong passwords and keep track of all of them.

Use multifactor authentication (MFA)

Use MFA, especially during the holidays when business spending using company credit cards is more common. You can set up MFA on your eCommerce accounts to better protect your business credit card information from being hacked or stolen.

Be wary of email scams

Watch out for emails from unknown sources that promise astronomical discounts, like 90% off on products or services, or contain suspicious links or attachments. These are fake emails created by scammers to collect your personal banking information or passwords. Do not click on any links or attachments in these types of email messages. If you want to check the legitimacy of the message, you can check the site directly.

Use virtual private networks (VPN)

Public Wi-Fi is a big security risk, which is why you should avoid using it. However, if you have no other choice but to use public Wi-Fi while traveling or working remotely over the holidays, use VPN software before connecting to a public Wi-Fi network. VPNs can encrypt your data and prevent hackers from monitoring your online activities.

Make sure to update your software

The best way to protect your business from online threats is to make sure you have the latest security software, web browser, and operating system. If you don't update your software regularly, you fall behind in terms of security and miss out on new features that could help streamline your cybersecurity measures.

Work with a trusted managed services provider (MSP)

When you work with a managed services provider (MSP), you can rest easy during the holiday season. MSPs will see to it that your VPN connections are in place and that backups, antivirus software updates, and network monitoring are done frequently. Furthermore, an MSP will provide you with secure productivity tools to keep all documents and files safe in the cloud. They’ll also ensure that your files are backed up and accessible at any time.

By following these tips, you can have a carefree holiday season while keeping your business safe from cyberthreats. For more information on how to keep your business safe from cybercriminals, call us today.