Tech expert marks festive periods as peak for cyber crime. See free tips to stay safe

Sheldon Hand, head of security software and services at IBM Southern Africa, has, in a recent interview, established that more cyber crimes are perpetrated during the festive season, as shopping stats tends to increase with high volume of orders.

Sheldon stated this recently, while responding to security-related questions filed by South African IT correspondent Jenna Delport.

Sheldon, during the engagement, revealed that expert insights in cybersecurity have shown that “data breaches peak before and during the holiday shopping season,” given “the extra web traffic and high order volumes”.

Responding to what internet users must do to stay protected, the cyber security expert urged online retailers to be prepared to respond to data breaches during this season, noting that it is imperative for companies (especially) to be on the look out to address future attacks.

Sheldon explained that while this security challenge might become obvious during festivity, most criminals often carry out their hacking operations way ahead of those periods.

Read also: Canadian firm forced to pay hackers to return stolen data learn cyber security online

The statement read in part, “while serious compromises and attacks do of course occur during the holidays, attackers often do their dirty work earlier in the year so they can reap the benefits during the holiday shopping frenzy.

Sheldon further explained that “attackers infiltrate systems and then spend months stealthily collecting data, and then using this to commit cybercrime during the holiday season.”

In his recommendations on how to stay secured, he advised internet users to be wary and resist hesitation to click tempting links. Sheldon warned, there was need for consumers to educate themselves on security issues.

According to him, “with all the warnings issues during the holiday season, the hope is that users may actually be more wary and are hesitating before they click on the dancing Santa in the holiday e-card that installs malware or the flashing “Discount” image that leads them to a malicious site.”

This extra seasonal vigilance, according to Sheldon, “may lead to fewer attack attempts.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now