SonicWALL, Inc. the leading provider of intelligent network security and data protection solutions, today released tips on how to recognize and avoid the top holiday threats that well-wishers and online shoppers face this holiday shopping season. With the holidays fast approaching, phishers, hackers and scammers are preparing to attack by perfecting social media scams, developing new and different merchant phishing techniques, cultivating data harvesting methods and perfecting greeting card malware.
"During the holidays, consumers the rush to quickly buy presents drives consumers to let their guard down and bypass their normal security precautions. Phishers and scammers are expecting this," said Boris Yanovsky, Vice President of software engineering at SonicWALL. "We already see an increase in malware, Trojans and phishing attacks before the holiday season begins. This year, Facebook targeting is rampant. Unfortunately, consumers won't learn the extent of any damage until it's already too late and the holidays are over. Consumers should arm and prepare themselves now against the flood of holiday-related threats."
Malware and phishing threats tend to show up in a variety of forms consumers often wouldn't expect during the holidays. For example, malware disguises itself as a multimedia Christmas greeting card from a long lost friend. A new Facebook "friend" nudges you to play a special holiday game or directs you to "favorite" sites. Your favorite online retailer offers you a special discount if you "click here."
