Cybergrinches work hardest when the rest of us are busy making preparations for a joyful holiday season. There is more shopping, more deliveries, more travel, and many more messages to sort through, which gives them extra chances to sneak in scams.
Behind the scenes they set up fake stores, send convincing delivery notices, and look for any opening to grab personal or payment details.
Our BlueBird iT Santa helpers created this short guide for you to help stop the Cybergrinches in their tracks so your holidays stay peaceful, safe, and fun.
This is a small gift of sharing, so please pass it along to your staff, friends, and family to help them stay safe from the Cybergrinches too.
1. Make passwords and passphrases harder to crack
Many holiday scams succeed because Cybergrinches guess or reuse passwords that people have shared across several accounts. Use these simple upgrades:
- Use a long passphrase instead of a short password or common paswords as 123456. A sentence you can remember is better than a single word with a few numbers
- Give each important account its own password. Never use the same password for email, banking, and shopping.
- Turn on two factor authentication wherever you can. For example, a code texted to your phone or created by an authenticator app.
- If you only have time to change a few passwords, start with email, banking, and any account that saves your card details.
2. Safer holiday shopping online
The holiday season brings a wave of fake retailer sites and scam ads that look very close to the real thing. Before you click buy
- Go to the retailer site directly. Type the address yourself or use a trusted app instead of clicking a link from email or social media
- Check the address bar carefully Watch for small spelling changes or extra words in the address that suggest a fake site
- Be cautious with deals that feel impossible. If a price looks far below normal, treat it as a warning sign.
- Use a credit card or trusted payment service. They usually offer better fraud protection than debit cards or bank transfers.
- Avoid shopping on public wifi. Save checkouts and banking for a secure home or mobile data connection.
3. Holiday themed phishing and fake delivery messages
Scammer gremlins love holiday themes. They send messages that look like shipping updates, order confirmations, charity appeals, or travel notices. Many of the phishing attempts that target shoppers rely on this sense of urgency and excitement. Pause before you click on
- Shipping texts that say you missed a delivery and must click a link to reschedule
- Emails that claim your account will be closed if you do not log in right away
- Charity requests that arrive by text or email from unknown groups
- Gift card offers, free vouchers, or surprise refunds you were not expecting
Smart habits
- Do not click links in messages you did not expect
- Go directly to the retailer or courier site instead
- Check the sender address, not just the display name
- Never share passwords, full card details, or one time codes in response to an email or text
- Report suspicious messages to your provider or delete them without replying
4. New devices, travel, and family visits
Many people unwrap new phones, tablets, laptops, and game systems during the holidays or travel to see family. Those are prime moments for cyber gremlins to attack as well.
For new devices
- Turn on updates and install them before you start using the device
- Change any default passwords on home routers, cameras, and other smart devices
- Create separate accounts for children or guests instead of sharing your main login
For holiday travel or visits
- Avoid using public wifi for banking or shopping
- If you must use public wifi, avoid entering passwords or card details while connected
- Keep your devices with you and locked with a strong code or biometric login
5. Smart gifts and connected home devices
Smart speakers, doorbells, cameras, and other connected gifts are very popular at this time of year. They are great additions at home, but they also connect into your network and the Cybergrinches know that!
A short list for safer smart gifts
- Before you buy, check that the device supports updates and lets you set your own strong password
- Change default usernames and passwords as soon as you set it up
- Turn on automatic updates if the device offers them
- When possible, connect smart home gadgets to a guest network on your wifi
From everyone at BlueBird iT, we hope these tips help you enjoy a safer, quieter holiday season, with more energy left for the people and traditions that matter most.