During the vacations, digital security risks increase significantly for a number of reasons. Here are some of the most common ones:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use of public Wi-Fi networks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether in an airport, a coffee shop or a hotel, connecting to a public Wi-Fi network exposes you to possible man-in-the-middle attacks. In this type of attack, hackers intercept your connection to steal your login credentials, bank details or any other sensitive information you transmit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seasonal phishing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cybercriminals often send emails or messages related to seasonal offers, discounts and promotions. Those messages may include malicious links or attachments designed to infect your devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lost or stolen devices<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When traveling, it is easy to forget a device on a plane, in a cab or in a hotel. If you don't have security measures such as strong passwords or encryption, anyone with access to that device could steal your information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remote access without security measures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you're working from home or any remote location during the vacations, you're probably accessing your company's systems. Without proper protections, this opens one more door for hackers to enter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To understand the seriousness of the issue, let's look at three real examples of security problems that occurred on vacations and how they could have been avoided:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Case 1: The hotel with insecure Wi-Fi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While on vacation with his family, an executive decided to connect to the hotel's Wi-Fi to check his email. Someone on the network intercepted the connection, managed to insert a virus (malwre) and accessed his bank accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Solution<\/strong>Better use a virtual private network (VPN) when connecting to public networks. This simple step encrypts your connection and makes it much more secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Case 2: A phishing disguised as a Christmas offer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A company employee received an email claiming to offer a 50% discount on a popular shopping site. Unsuspecting, she clicked on the link and provided her password. Within minutes, the attackers were able to make fraudulent purchases using her purchasing card information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Solution<\/strong>Ongoing training to recognize phishing emails and the use of MFA, which would have stopped unauthorized access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Case 3: The smartphone lost in a cab<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An executive left his phone in a cab while traveling. The device had no password lock or encryption and the attackers were able to access sensitive company information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Solution<\/strong>: Make sure you have secure locks on your devices and the ability to remotely wipe them in case of loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is one of the most powerful tools for protecting your accounts. Simply put, it adds an additional layer of security beyond your password. This can be something you have (like a code on your phone) or something you are (like a fingerprint).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If someone gets your password (perhaps thanks to a phishing attack), they will not be able to access your account without the second factor. This makes it virtually impossible for cybercriminals to get in, even if they have part of your credentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Enable MFA on all accounts that allow it: emails, work platforms and banking services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use an authentication application such as Google Authenticator or Authy, rather than relying on SMS, which can be more vulnerable to attacks such as SIM swapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure everyone in your company is using MFA. This includes laptops, work applications and internal systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\nReal cases of security problems on vacations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why is MFA your best ally?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to implement MFA?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
More tips to protect yourself during the vacations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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