Back To Blogs

The 12 Cybersecurity Mistakes of Christmas (and How to Avoid Them)

Trust Score

The holidays bring joy, celebration, and connection—but also heightened cyber risks. For businesses, this festive season is a peak time for cyberattacks as criminals exploit stretched IT teams, distracted employees, and heavy reliance on digital systems.

Why the Holidays Are a Hotspot for Cybercrime

According to Palo Alto Networks, ransomware attacks surged by 30% during the 2022 holiday season, and phishing scams increased by 65% in December compared to other months. These statistics highlight the importance of staying vigilant during this vulnerable time.

To help, here’s a refreshed look at The 12 Cybersecurity Mistakes of Christmas and how to avoid them—with modern cybersecurity tools from CyberAlliance enhancing your defenses.

1. Ignoring Security Updates and Patches
Skipping updates during the holiday rush leaves critical vulnerabilities exposed. Target’s infamous 2013 data breach, caused by outdated software, compromised 40 million customers.

Pro Tip: Automate updates or schedule them strategically with CyberAlliance’s bizSAFE, which simplifies endpoint security and ensures devices stay up to date.

2. Skipping Employee Training
Phishing attacks spike during the holidays, targeting employees with emails disguised as seasonal offers or HR requests.

Solution: Equip your team with cybersecurity training and consider CyberAlliance’s vCISO Services, which include tailored awareness programs to reduce human error.

3. Weak Passwords
The 2024 Verizon report reveals that weak or stolen passwords account for 81% of hacking-related breaches.

Action Plan: Enforce strong password policies and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). Tools like CyberAlliance’s Cyber Trust Score help evaluate and strengthen your access controls.

4. Neglecting Mobile Device Security
Remote work and travel during the holidays increase reliance on unsecured devices and networks. The Sony Pictures breach of 2014 reminds us of the dangers.

What Helps: With bizSAFE, you can manage mobile device security seamlessly, ensuring safe connections to company resources even on the go.

5. Overlooking Physical Security
Stolen laptops or unsecured office spaces can result in devastating breaches. In 2023, 20% of small businesses reported device thefts.

Prevent It: Use encryption and secure physical areas. CyberAlliance’s Thola helps track unusual network access, even if a device is compromised.

6. Overlooking Third-Party Risks
Hackers often exploit vulnerabilities in third-party vendors, as seen in the 2020 SolarWinds breach.

How to Stay Safe: Assess vendor security regularly. With Cyber Trust Score, you can ensure partners meet your compliance and security standards.

7. Skipping Regular Data Backups
Ransomware recovery costs skyrocketed to $4.7 million in 2024. Businesses without reliable backups risk permanent data loss.

Tip: Schedule automated backups and test them. CyberAlliance’s Awaqi - Threat Intelligence offers insights into ransomware trends to help anticipate threats.

8. Failure to Monitor Network Activity
Real-time monitoring is critical as cyber threats don’t take a holiday. Early detection can prevent breaches from escalating.

Upgrade Your Defenses: Use Thola for continuous network monitoring, anomaly detection, and actionable insights that keep you ahead of attackers.

9. Exposing Sensitive Data
Leaving sensitive data unprotected is a hacker’s dream. In 2023, 43% of breaches exposed customer information like credit card numbers.

Fix It: Encrypt critical data and regularly audit file permissions. Pair this with Cyber Trust Scan, which identifies and addresses vulnerabilities in your systems.

10. Ignoring Website Security
A staggering 30,000 websites were hacked daily in 2022. Websites are often the first point of entry for attackers.

Proactive Protection: Regularly scan your website using Cyber Trust Scan, ensuring it’s secure against vulnerabilities and malware.

11. Failing to Plan for Cyber Incidents
Without a formal incident response plan, businesses lose precious time and resources during breaches. Alarmingly, over 50% of small businesses lack such a plan.

Be Prepared: Develop a robust response plan with guidance from vCISO Services, which offer strategic oversight and expertise.

12. Underestimating Social Engineering Attacks
Holiday-themed scams, from fake gift card requests to fraudulent donation solicitations, are particularly common.

Stay Alert: Use CyberAlliance’s Awaqi for real-time threat intelligence, helping your team stay informed about the latest social engineering tactics.

🎁 Bonus: Protect Your Identity and Access Management (IAM) This Holiday Season
The holidays are a time for joy and togetherness—but also an excellent opportunity for scammers. From Zelle fraud to AI-powered deepfakes, threats to Identity and Access Management (IAM) are on the rise. Here is how to stay secure and keep the holiday spirit intact.

Zelle Scams: The Holiday Heist
Zelle makes payments easy, but scammers are taking advantage:

  • Fake Bank Alerts: Scammers pretend to be your bank, guiding you to “fix” issues while redirecting your money to their accounts.
  • On platforms like Facebook Marketplace, scammers—or even friends unknowingly caught in a fraud—may ask you to accept Zelle payments on their behalf, claiming they cannot or will not open their own account. This puts you at risk of being caught in the middle, potentially compromising your own account and finances.
Tip: Always verify bank communications directly. Ignore unsolicited texts, emails, or calls asking for your account details.

AI-Powered Scams: The Tech-Savvy Grinch
Cybercriminals are using AI to create:
  • Deepfake Celebrity Endorsements: Hyper-realistic videos promoting fake holiday deals or investments.
  • Phishing 2.0: Convincing, AI-generated emails or texts trick you into sharing personal or financial information.
Tip: Stick to secure platforms, verify offers, and avoid high-pressure sales tactics.

Protecting Kids Online: IAM at Home
During the holidays, kids spend more time online, making them targets for scammers.
As Sharon Lawrence writes in Protecting Your Nest: Cybersecurity for Parents:
“Kids may unknowingly share personal information, such as their locations, contact details, or family information, without understanding the potential consequences.”
Tips for Families:
  • Adjust privacy settings on yours and your kids’ accounts.
  • Teach cyber hygiene early—like not sharing personal info online.
  • Monitor their online interactions and educate them about frauds.
Tip: Find Sharon’s book on Amazon.com for more insights into keeping kids cyber-safe.

🎄 Stay Secure This Season
The holidays should be filled with joy—not the stress of identity theft. Protect your IAM by verifying communications, using trusted platforms, and teaching your family safe online habits.
Tip: This season, give yourself the gift of peace of mind. 🎁🔒

CyberAlliance: Your Partner in Holiday Cybersecurity

Protect your business this festive season with tools designed to meet modern threats:
  • bizSAFE: Unified Endpoint Management for secure devices.
  • vCISO Services: Strategic, expert guidance for tailored cybersecurity strategies.
  • Cyber Trust Scan: Website vulnerability scanner to fortify your digital presence.
  • Cyber Trust Score: Holistic risk assessment aligned with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
  • Awaqi - Threat Intelligence: Deep threat analysis for smarter decisions.
  • Thola - Monitoring, Detection & Analysis: Real-time tools to detect and neutralize threats.

Quick Links to CyberAlliance Products

Wishing You a Joyful, Secure Holiday Season

Cybersecurity doesn’t pause for the holidays, and neither should your defenses. Addressing these common mistakes ensures your business stays safe, leaving you free to enjoy the festivities.

Contact CyberAlliance today to secure your business and usher in the New Year with confidence.

From all of us at CyberAlliance, happy holidays! 🎄🔐