This year’s top “12 Scams of the Holidays”

McAfee has identified this year’s top “12 Scams of the Holidays” - I thought it worthy of reproducing here as a reminder to stay safe :-)



1.You’ve Got Mail! — As holiday sales continue to migrate online, the risk for shipping notification and phishing scams are increasing. Though malware is a year-round risk, since many people do their holiday shopping online, consumers are more apt to click on a shipping notification or phishing e-mail because they think it is legit.

2.Deceptive Advertising — Everyone is searching for steals and deals during the holidays. Keep your eyes peeled (and your wallet in check) when online shopping for this season’s most coveted products. Dangerous links, phony contests on social media, and bogus gift cards are just some of the ways scammers try to steal your personal information and ruin your holiday cheer.

3.Chilling Charities — ‘Tis the season for giving. During the holidays, many consumers give back by donating to their favorite charity. Sadly, no good deed goes unpunished. Be wary of fake charities that could reach you via email, or are shared virally through social media.

4.Buyer Beware — There are just some scams that you can’t help but fall victim to, unfortunately. Point of sale malware that leads to exposing credit card information falls into this category. Make sure you check your credit card statements vigilantly and stay on top of breaking news to be aware and prepared.

5.iScams — New mobile apps for Android and iOS devices are added every day. Thanks to the ongoing advancement of technology, your mobile device can control the temperature in your house, keep you connected to social media and add cool filters to your holiday photos. Even the most official-looking or festive apps could be malicious and access your personal information.

6.Getting Carded — Digital e-cards to spread the holiday cheer are fun, easy and most importantly, thoughtful. While you may want a loved one to send you “Season’s Greetings,” hackers are looking to wish you a “Merry Malware!” Well-known e-card sites are safe, but be wary of potential scams that cause you to download malware onto your device.

7.Holiday Travel Scams — With travel on the rise during peak holiday times, online scammers are ready to take advantage of the fact that consumers often become less vigilant about their safety. Fake online travel deal links are bountiful, but there are also risks that exist once you arrive at your destination including spyware that can access your information through logging onto infected PCs onsite.

8.Bank Robocall Scam — When holiday spending increases and consumers are aware of the abuse to their bank accounts and credit cards, hackers use this as an opportunity. In most cases, consumers receive a fake phone call from one of these institutions from an automated (or not) “security agent” stating that the user’s account has been compromised and requesting personal information including the account password, to make changes.

9.ATM Skimming — During the holiday season, you need cash and are usually in a rush to get it. Criminals can access your information at ATMs by installing skimming devices to steal the data off your card’s magnetic strip and either using a video camera or keypad overlay to capture your PIN. A simple solution:  look carefully at your ATM for anything suspicious and cover the keypad when entering your PIN.

10.Year in Review Traps — Many news services capitalize on the holidays by developing “Year in Review” articles. Companies should warn their employees about the risks of clicking on these types of links from their work emails. Links from phony sources could infect and compromise the security of company devices.

11.BYO…Device — With an increase in travel, activity (and bubbly!) over the busy holiday season, people are more likely to forget their smart phones in public places. While inconvenient for them, it is also way for hackers to access sensitive personal information and business data if the appropriate security measures are not in place.

12.Bad USB Blues — During the holiday season, you may see an increase in gift baskets from vendors who want to continue doing business with your company in the upcoming year. One of the most popular items in these baskets includes branded USBs. Beware of allowing your employees to use these, as undetectable malware is sometimes pre-installed on them.

To stay protected and ensure a happy and safe holiday season, follow these safety tips:


Do Your Research

Whether online shopping, donating to charities, or tracking your gifts, do your research to make sure the company you are working with is legitimate.

•Do an online search of the company you’re buying items from to see if there’s any news about recent risks
•Go to the company’s homepage to make sure it is a genuine business
•Instead of clicking on a link in an email for a shopping deal, visit the site directly

Analyze Apps

Before downloading a new app, review it to make sure you know exactly what you’re putting on your smartphone.

•Only download apps from an official app store and not a third party
•If the app requests too many permissions, do not download it. It may be requesting access to information on your phone that you would prefer to keep private, and certainly more information than it needs

Bank Carefully

People are spending more money during the holidays than they do all year. Cyber criminals may try and use this fact to more easily scam consumers.

•If your bank calls requesting information, hang up and call them back through the official main phone number. It’s important to talk to your banker through the official number so you know it is legitimate
•When withdrawing money, be aware of your surroundings. Check to make sure that you are in a safe place to enter your information. If anything looks amiss, leave
•Inspect the ATM for loose wires or machine parts that may have been tampered with. This could indicate hackers trying to fix the machine for their benefit

Stay Informed

Holiday season or not, cyber scams and identity theft happen very frequently throughout the year. Now that shopping season has begun and the danger is heightened, it is important to constantly be aware of new cyber-attacks or threats in the marketplace.

•Follow breaking news stories for new security breaches to stay alert and be on top of your game
•Only shop for holiday gifts at retailers you know have not been compromised
•Check your credit card statements often to make sure that you were not affected.

Have a great holiday season...   

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Safety First When Traveling

You can find a lot of safety tips in online and
offline resources for traveling whether it is for
pleasure or for business. 

If you want to make the most of your trip, safety first when
traveling is very important. Check out the video from Soniastravels for some great ideas.






Here are some other things that you can do to ensure
your safety:

1. When traveling, it's natural to carry
luggage. If you need to place luggage tags, just put
your email address and never indicate there your name,
phone number, and home address.

2. Air traveling is a big part of holidays.
One effective shield that you can use against an attacker
(if there is trouble on the plane) is the seat straps.
You have to use all your strength in ramming the strap
on the attacker's face. This move will cut off the
attacker's vision and then you can kick
that individual in the groin or in any other sensitive
body part.

3. Don't forget to bring a handy flashlight and
batteries. You can use it if there is no light or even
use it against an attacker if needed.

4. Don't forget to carry wallets. If you want, you can
take two wallets with you. One wallet can contain some
non-important items and cash while the other
wallet should contain your important IDs, insurance
cards, cash, and emergency contacts. Keep the wallets
in separate places. For instance, the insignificant
wallet can be placed in your pant's back pocket and
the important wallet should be in your coat's front
pocket.

5. When eating in foreign restaurants, it is a good idea to
acquaint yourself with the place's layout. Take note
of the front and exit doors.

6. Charge your mobile phone at the hotel. When you
leave, bring it with you and other gadgets that can be
easily carried.

7. Never travel alone. Through there are some
travelers who do this every time they travel, you
shouldn't take the chance. Who knows, perhaps they are
just lucky but you'll never know what's going to
happen in the next few hours. Always be prepared.
Remember that devious individuals are just waiting to
see a helpless traveler, alone and vulnerable.

8. You must be mentally alert at all times. Observe
the people around you, how they move or look at you.
Recognise any uneasy feelings if something's going to
happen.

9. Before you travel to a foreign place, it's
best to make hotel reservations in advance. That way, you don't
have to fumble or ask for directions trying to
locate your hotel.

10. Don't travel with so much luggage unless
needed. Try to wear comfortable clothes and don't wear
something that might attract the attention of bad
people. Be simple as you are. For women, avoid wearing
high-heeled shoes when traveling.

Have a great holiday :-)


 

Holiday Safety tips

5 Holiday Travel Tips from the 

National Security Institute:  

1.If you'll be gone overnight, be sure to secure your home. Remember, the holidays are a boon time for burglars too! You'll want to hold your mail and newspaper deliveries, and generally make the place look like somebody's there. You may use timers to turn various lights on and off. Or you may ask a neighbor to do the same.

2.Speaking of home: Take a look around at your valuables. Fine jewelry and other small, easily stolen items should probably go in a safe deposit box. So should critical documents such as auto titles, birth certificates, and Social Security cards.

3.If you're driving, prepare your vehicle for the trip. This is especially important if it's cold where you live and/or if you have younger kids. Make sure your fluid levels and tire pressures are correct (don't forget the spare!), and pack an emergency kit with coats, water, flares, snacks, etc. in case you end up broken down in the middle of nowhere.

4.If you're flying, prepare ahead of time. Make sure friends and family have copies of your itinerary, and bring all necessary ID to avoid delays. Do you have a supply of all necessary prescription meds? Also, when packing, obey all TSA guidelines regarding toiletries. This can spare you much hassle in security lines.

5.It's a good idea to have extra cash during travel, but you should sift through your wallet or purse to make sure you don't bring too much personal info. For example, you might bring your driver's license and a single credit and debit card, leaving the rest in a safe place so it can't be lost or stolen.

6.And one more tip from us:  Be mindful about what you share on social media.  Broadcasting your travel plans (or pictures) on social media to a wide audience can invite the unwanted attention of opportunistic burglers. Enable privacy settings to limit your audience so you can share the joy of your vacation, without putting yourself or your valuables at risk.

Have a great festive season

Safety First When Traveling

5 Key Tips That Will Make Your Holiday More Enjoyable and Safer

It is always a great experience to go to different countries. You will be able to experience different cultures, and you will also have the chance to take a look at some of the most beautiful sights in the world. 

However, you should always remember that you always have to think that safety first when traveling should be your top priority.

Wherever you plan on going, it is important to remember that your and your traveling companion's safety should always be first. Besides, if an incident

would occur, it will definitely make the rest of the holiday miserable.

Planning holidays or travels is not just about planning which places you should visit, but it is also about being prepared for things that may occur. So,here are some travel safety tips that you should always keep in your mind in order for you to have a more enjoyable and safer vacation.

Transportation is the first thing that you should plan ahead on. You need to remember that even when you are still in your own country, airports and bus stations are notorious for pickpockets and robberies. Always remember that you should always keep your important travel items with you at all times.

Have your luggage clearly marked in order to avoid letting someone take it by accident thinking that it's his or her luggage. Also, instead of using cheap luggage, always go for quality pieces and well-known and reputable brands. By doing so, you will never worry about your luggage breaking or suddenly springing open in the middle of the airport terminal.

When you arrive in your destination country, always ask which taxis are safe to ride in. You can check this with a police officer or from the information desk at the airport. Also, never share taxis with stranger. And, when it comes to public transportation, avoid it late at night, especially if you are not sure where you are going.

Also, although backpackers will recommend hitchhiking, you should avoid doing this as much as possible.

Whenever you are checking in to hotels, make sure that the hotel you checked-in is located in a good area.

Always take not of the emergency exits and never open your hotel room door to any strangers and never invite people you just have met in your hotel room. Also, use the hotel room door lock and chain during the night.

Clothing is another thing that you should plan on to have a safe trip. The key to traveling safety is by never looking like a tourist. Always mix with the public in terms of style. Never ever wear any expensive accessories, such as gold necklaces, expensive watches, rings, and other affluent items.

Never put anything that you can afford to lose in your pockets or purse. If you can, try buying a small bag that you can wear close to your body. A small bag the size of a wallet that can be worn as a necklace is a great idea. A belt bag can also provide you with security amd peace of mind.

Avoid using cash at all times. As much as possible, always use your credit card. And, when it is time for you to pay, never leave your eyes on your credit card.

Accompany the waiter to the cashier when paying with a credit card to make sure that your card doesn't get swiped with a credit card copier.

Remember these things and you can be sure that you will have a lot of fun on your travels. 

By keeping safety on your first priority when traveling, you can be sure that you and your travel companions will have a great time during your vacation or your holiday wherever it may be.