Four Simple Things You Can Do to Get Through the Holidays Safely Online

Who would have thought that the 2019 holidays would be the last we could spend the “conventional” way - at least for now?

This year there are neither Christmas markets with a cozy chat at the mulled wine stand nor Christmas parties in the club or in the company.

Instead, many of us stay at home, often sitting in front of the computer for hours each day to work or study. But we do our own shopping, gaming, and entertainment online.

- At this point, many thanks to everyone who is fighting on the front line and keeping the machinery running! -

None of we have experienced the kind of holidays like 2020, so it should come as no surprise that cybercriminals are doing the business of their lives under these circumstances.

Many people take a vacation over the holidays. Rest and relaxation are the order of the day. You become more careless and get in a donor mood. This means high season for cybercriminals. You are busy breaking into networks, installing malware, or sending phishing emails.

As if the holidays (and the pandemic) weren't already tearing enough holes in our wallets, there is now also the risk of falling victim to a cyber attack at any time. Surely you would have just missed paying thousands of euros in ransom to decrypt your private and professional files.

So that you don't have to worry about it too, we've put together some tips on how to stay safe online over the holidays (and beyond).

1. Guest access for your WLAN

If you do get a visit from close friends or family (you know, this year less is more), you should definitely create separate guest access for your WLAN. Especially when you work from home, your professional data may be accessed via your home network.

By using separate WiFi access, you prevent your guests from accessing your home network. This way, you can safely reveal your WiFi password and avoid having to worry about changing it again after your guests have left.

Of course, you trust your friends and family, but we still strongly recommend guest access. Find out how to do this in articles like this one from PC World.

2. New year, new password

Update your passwords. The best thing to do is to get a password manager. This not only saves you time but can also avoid problems later. Hackers try to gain access to your accounts with stolen credentials. Don't make it unnecessarily easy for them.

Depending on the number of accounts, you have to manage, the initial setup of a password manager can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or two, but it's worth it. This investment could save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars by avoiding a cyber-attack. Quite apart from the fact that it generally provides a lot more security.

3. Shop safely

Have you found a unique gift from an online retailer or are you still making a few last purchases (even if only vouchers)? Do not rush into entering your payment details, but better double-check that you are really on the safe side.

1.      If possible, only visit proven and trustworthy online retailers.
2.      Then check the URL of the page as well. Make sure that it starts with “HTTPS: //” and that it is what you would expect. For example, if you're on PayPal, make sure the URL is “paypal.com” and that it isn't misspelled (say “paypaal.com”) or otherwise looks weird.
3.      Last but not least, you could consider a virtual credit card for one-time purchases. This way you can protect your data a little better.

4. Do not exit security applications

You're main protection against hackers is antivirus software, firewall, and similar tools. So always let them run.

Cyber ​​criminals are everywhere and never miss an opportunity to catch you. In theory, you could fall into the trap anytime you're downloading an app or file, clicking an email, or visiting an inconspicuous looking website.

The security settings are there to protect you from malware. So please do not deactivate this.

Are you still looking for software without annoying pop-ups that won't slow down your computer? Then why not give Protegent360 Total Security a try to stay protected.

Conclusion

While we use the holidays to switch off and after this crazy year try to at least return to normalcy, cybercriminals are having a high season. With these additional security measures, you, your family, and your work can stay safe online over the holidays and beyond.

Spoil the Christmas business for cybercriminals and enjoy this time of calm and reflection without having to worry about malware and data protection.