Cybersecurity Precautions During Thanksgiving

Omokolade Ogunleye

As we embark on another stretch of Cybersecurity Awareness Month in 2022, it is always a good time to remind ourselves of the latest tactics, techniques, and procedures in the cybercrime world. By the way, Cybersecurity Awareness Month was an initiative since 2004 by the US government to help the general public protect themselves from cyber threats (CISA, 2022). This year’s theme is “See Yourself in Cyber.” But first, we must recognize the unlikely relationship between cybercrimes and holidays like Thanksgiving. Just before, during, and shortly after holidays are usually busy periods for us all! In this context, those are the periods we want to do some shopping, rent a holiday apartment, or plan travels. You should also know that cybercriminals have a lot on their plate, too, but just in another way–to be malicious through those means. While, for the most part, we still battle with the most common cyber threats, new threats are also emerging. But more significantly, cybercriminals are becoming more lethal with their approach to penetrating your wallet and bank accounts. Your identity is worth more than you think. You don’t want to be a victim of identity theft that could haunt you for life. According to Luthi, the impact of identity theft can range from a few days to many years. He further noted that it all depends on the nature of theft and how fast you identify and tackle it (2019). It is also common for cybercriminals to use victims as money mules. In other words, to use them to move their illegitimate proceeds to accounts controlled by them. The most striking thing about this is that you may also be culpable for the act if caught. Ignorance is not an excuse—just as in the case of a student caught assisting a counterpart undertaking academic dishonesty. This crime starts with the culprit first building a seemingly real relationship with their victims. The modus operandi often ranges from buying gift cards with stolen credit cards shipped to the victim’s address to transferring ill-gotten money to the victim’s bank account. They could also ask the victim to deposit fake checks unknowingly to them. The list is long, but the ultimate goal is to have the cash or its equivalents transferred to the account controlled by the criminals.It is practically not feasible to discuss all threats in this one article. But to be aware and be a step ahead, take the following action to protect yourself from being a victim or quickly recover if you already are: US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) suggests that you “think before you click,” if you must, and regularly update the software on your device. In addition, CISA strongly encourages that you only use strong passwords and enable multi-factor authentication. Although that is not an exhaustive list, it is a good starting point. Do not forget, as you celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, remember to “See Yourself in Cyber!”