As the holiday season approaches and families gather around the table to share gratitude and turkey, it’s easy to forget that cyber threats are at their peak during the holiday season. While Thanksgiving marks a time of togetherness, reflection, and generosity, it also presents unique cybersecurity challenges for organizations and individuals.
The combination of increased e-commerce activity, travel, remote work, and the holiday downtime often exploited by threat actors means now is a critical moment for businesses (and the experts who protect them) to redouble cybersecurity efforts and maintain strong cyber hygiene.
In 2024, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 859,532 complaints of suspected internet crimes, with reported losses of over $16.6 billion*
Why Cybersecurity Awareness Matters More Than Ever at Thanksgiving
Holidays are prime time for cyber attacks, especially for organizations operating with reduced IT and cybersecurity staff. Threat actors rely on periods when vigilance is low, long weekends, late nights, and, of course, times when we’re focused on family, not firewalls.
For business leaders and cybersecurity professionals, this season demands extra vigilance, not just for your organization, but for your friends and family who may not have your level of expertise.
Free Holiday Cybersecurity Resources
CISA’s Secure Our World initiative offers a comprehensive set of free, authoritative resources to empower individuals and organizations to boost cybersecurity awareness all year round. The Secure Our World portal gathers educational toolkits, tip sheets, posters, short videos, and practical training materials focused on the four most impactful cybersecurity behaviors.
These resources are perfect for both IT teams and cybersecurity experts sharing best practices with non-technical friends and family during the holidays. This online resource also offers guides on emerging risks including AI-powered scams. By leveraging these accessible tools, anyone can help secure both their workplace and their friends and families this Thanksgiving season.
Relatable Risk: Sharing Your Expertise Beyond the Office
One of the best gifts cybersecurity experts can give their loved ones this Thanksgiving is knowledge. You may spend your days implementing advanced cybersecurity protocols, but your family and friends may fall victim to phishing, ransomware, or compromised passwords while shopping for Black Friday Deals or sharing updates online.
Encouraging your friends and family to use multi-factor authentication (MFA), never reuse passwords, and think twice before clicking holiday-themed links can make a dramatic difference in their cyber safety.
At JANUS, we urge every security professional to extend their expertise beyond their organization this holiday season. Protecting our digital lives is as much a communal responsibility as keeping the mashed potatoes warm for dinner.
Essential Holiday Cybersecurity Tips for Business and Home
Whether you manage a large enterprise or simply want to keep your family safe, implementing a few key measures can enhance security this season and allow you to concentrate on what truly matters.
- Implement and Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication: Require MFA on all business-related accounts and recommend it to family for all of their online activities.
- Strengthen Password Hygiene: Use unique, complex passwords or passphrases for every account. Never reuse passwords on any app or website, including holiday shopping sites.
- Beware Holiday-Themed Phishing: Cybercriminals take advantage of the holiday rush, special sales, and the spirit of giving. Be skeptical of unexpected “special offers,” charity solicitations, or urgent messages, even if they seem to come from trusted brands. Remember, if it's too good to be true, it probably isn't.
- Share Knowledge at the Table: Whether over pie or via group chat, encourage loved ones to back up important data, know the signs of a scam, and reach out before acting on suspicious messages.
The CISA Holiday Online Safety Tip Sheet (link below) is a focused guide designed to help users navigate seasonal digital threats. This guide distills essential practices into actionable advice, such as:
- Verifying trusted websites before sharing any personal or payment information
- Avoiding suspicious holiday-themed emails, pop-ups, and messages
- Recommending use of secure networks, never public Wi-Fi, for all online activities
- Encouraging cautious social media sharing, to prevent data harvesting and oversharing
- Providing talking points for discussions with family about safe passwords, device management, scam awareness and overall cyber hygiene
This tip sheet is ideal for information security professionals looking to share cybersecurity knowledge with relatives, friends, coworkers, and clients. Its advice is rooted in current threat intelligence and best practices and serves as an excellent companion for holiday digital security initiatives.
This Thanksgiving, Protect What You’re Thankful For
As experts, sharing your knowledge and modeling best practices ensures not only your organization, but your entire community benefits from a higher standard of security.
After the last slice of pumpkin pie has been served, take a moment to check in with friends and family about safe online habits. Ask how they are securing their digital lives this season, and remind them: Cybersecurity is a year-round commitment, but it’s especially important during the holiday season when we’re focused on what matters most.
From our JANUS family to yours, thank you for your vigilance and for being the trusted resource your loved ones can count on. Wishing you a secure, peaceful, and joy-filled Thanksgiving.
