1. Phishing Attacks

During Black Friday, cybercriminals send fake promotional emails or invoices to steal credentials or financial information. These emails mimic trusted brands and often create a sense of urgency to trick recipients.

Mitigation Tip:

• Use robust email filtering solutions.
• Train employees to identify phishing attempts.
• Educate customers to verify senders before clicking links.

Source: Verizon 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report

2. Fraudulent Websites

Scammers set up fake websites with deals that seem too good to be true. These not only defraud customers but also damage the reputation of legitimate businesses.

Mitigation Tip:

• Monitor for impostor websites using your brand.
• Register similar domain names to block misuse.
• Display trust badges and use secure payment gateways.

Source: Federal Trade Commission - Online Shopping Scams

3. Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attacks

High Black Friday traffic makes businesses targets for DDoS attacks, where attackers overwhelm a site with traffic, causing outages that disrupt sales.

Mitigation Tip:

• Use DDoS protection services.
• Have a response plan to quickly restore service.

Source: Akamai State of the Internet Report

4. Ransomware Threats

Busy periods stretch IT teams thin, making businesses vulnerable to ransomware attacks. Cybercriminals exploit unpatched systems to encrypt data and demand payment.

Mitigation Tip:

• Keep all systems updated with security patches.
• Regularly back up critical data.
• Consider cybersecurity insurance.

Source: CISA - Cybersecurity Guidance

5. Insider Threats

Seasonal staff or disgruntled employees can pose insider threats by mishandling or intentionally leaking sensitive data.

Mitigation Tip:

• Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).
• Use audit logs to monitor activities.
• Provide cybersecurity training for all employees, including temporary hires.

Stay Ahead of the Threats

Cybercriminals evolve their tactics, but businesses can stay protected with a proactive cybersecurity strategy. Partnering with a trusted provider like TechGuard Security helps safeguard your operations and maintain customer trust.

Contact TechGuard Security for a consultation today.