Why is Cybersecurity a must for Cyber Monday?

Cybersecurity- As we approached Cyber Monday, the craze for online shopping was at its peak. Almost every store and online portal is luring customers with its amazing Cyber Monday offers, following the floods of Black Friday deals. This is the time to shop smartly and securely. Every passing year, the online scams and frauds increase, as November and December are the heaviest months for online shoppers and the right time for scammers to take advantage of customers. 

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as online fraud continues to rise, consumers lost a staggering $8.8 billion to scams in 2022 — a figure that spikes every holiday season. Now more than ever, both shoppers and online businesses must prioritize strengthening their digital defences through enhanced cybersecurity and data protection measures. 

Shoppers, be smart this Cyber Monday: Know what to do in 2025 

As 2025 is bidding adieu, everyone waits the whole year to shop for the best deals for the holidays. Let’s dig into some of the sources which will help you understand the attacks and the percentage of increase in these attacks. 

• Credential-stuffing attacks against online retailers more than tripled (a 208% surge) during the Black Friday weekend.
• Global phishing attempts rose by 17% with scams specifically mimicking popular stores and shipping services.
• During the shopping season, an estimated 8% of all Black Friday promotional emails were identified as malicious or containing phishing links.
• Retail websites were bombarded with over 3.6 million automated bot attacks on Black Friday alone.

The holiday shopping season consistently creates a massive surge in coordinated cyber threats targeting both businesses and consumers. This multi-pronged assault employs credential theft, deceptive phishing, and automated bots to exploit the high volume of online traffic and transactions.

5 Tips to be Followed by Online Shoppers

If you don’t want any data to be leaked this holiday season or Cyber Monday, then there are top cybersecurity tips for safe online shopping. 

1. Stick to Trusted & Verified Sites

Always check for “HTTPS” in the URL and avoid clicking promotional links in emails. Criminals create sophisticated fake websites that mimic legitimate retailers to steal your data, a tactic frequently warned about by the FBI.

2. Never Shop on Public Wi-Fi

Open networks are a prime target for data thieves. For secure transactions, always use a VPN, updated antivirus software, and a device with advanced Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) protection. 

3. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

According to IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report, using MFA can reduce unauthorized access incidents by nearly a third. This simple step is one of the most effective ways to protect your accounts.

4. Keep All Software Updated

Hackers aggressively target known vulnerabilities in outdated software, especially during busy shopping periods. Regular updates are your first line of defence, closing security gaps that criminals exploit.

5. Regularly Back Up Your Data

Protect your personal and financial information from ransomware and data loss with a reliable backup solution. Services like Symmetric IT Group offer cloud backup and disaster recovery to ensure your data is safe and your downtime is minimized.

CyberSecurity Online Diploma Program at ABM College

ABM College in Canada offers a 70-week online CyberSecurity Diploma program. This cybersecurity diploma program is one of the highest-demand programs in Canada. Everyone knows these days, cyber attacks are on the rise and joining a demanding program can help them secure their future. 

• To give you a competitive edge, the program concludes with a real-world practicum placement, allowing you to apply your training directly in professional environments. 
• Graduates emerge with the confidence and experience needed to step into roles such as Cybersecurity Analyst, Network Security Specialist, or Information Security Officer across a wide range of industries. 

Online Cybersecurity Diploma Program Highlights 

• Get Real-World Experience: Gain hands-on skills by installing and configuring the core tools used by cybersecurity professionals daily.

• Think Like a Developer: Build a solid programming foundation to understand the root causes of security flaws in software and systems.

• Automate to Dominate: Learn scripting to efficiently automate security protocols and response tasks.

• Master Data Protection: Understand the principles of cryptography to grasp how data is secured, from encryption to secure key management.

• Become a Digital Defender: Learn and apply the techniques to actively defend and fortify networks and digital infrastructure.

• Fast-Track Your Career: Accelerate your learning with high-intensity training designed to prepare you for the demands of the field.

How Businesses Can Protect Themselves from Cyber Attacks

In an era where businesses handle sensitive customer data, payments, and shipping information

• A robust cybersecurity posture is fundamental to operations and trust. 
• Proactive protection is key to staying ahead of threats.
• Partnering with a dedicated cybersecurity firm empowers you to identify and remedy vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.