As Halloween nears, we usually consider outfits, spooky dwellings, and lively parties. However, cybercriminals see it as a chance to carry out fresh attacks by taking advantage of the festive mood and lack of focus. This year’s Halloween Cyber Threat Report reveals a variety of concerning cyber dangers, such as complex phishing schemes, focused ransomware, and IoT susceptibilities, which heighten the fear factor this season. Individuals and businesses should be aware of what they need to do to protect themselves from these “digital monsters.”
Halloween celebrations provide an opportunity for cybercriminals to engage in social engineering tactics, tricking people into divulging sensitive information.
Phishing continues to be a prevalent and successful cyber threat, particularly during holidays such as Halloween. Scammers employ emails, counterfeit e-commerce deals, and social media advertisements to hide their harmful intentions.
Special Halloween offers: Emails offering “time-limited deals” on costumes, decorations, or treats lead to fake websites aiming to steal credit card details or install harmful software.Social engineers create emails that resemble event invitations or costume contest notifications, luring users to divulge personal information or click on risky links.
Confirmation of Orders: False notifications regarding Halloween purchases or pressing shipping problems that induce a feeling of haste, frequently resulting in accessing phishing websites that illicitly obtain confidential data.
Modern phishing attacks are very advanced, frequently copying popular brands to trick even cautious individuals. During Halloween, phishing attacks take advantage of decreased vigilance and holiday themes to target shoppers.
In October, ransomware attacks have surged, with threat groups such as Crypt Ghouls and RomCom focusing on organizations across different industries. These attacks have transformed into a method called Double Extortion, in which hackers request one payment to decrypt data and another to ensure the confidentiality of sensitive information. During Halloween, there is an increased exposure to risk due to more people shopping online and being less alert as they get ready for the holiday.
Double extortion is when cyber attackers encrypt important data and demand payment in exchange for decryption keys, then demand an additional payment to prevent the release of stolen information.
RaaS, such as LockBit 3.0, allows less experienced criminals to carry out advanced ransomware attacks, expanding the reach of these cyber threats to a wider range of individuals.
The surge in ransomware attacks this October serves as a reminder for companies to focus on frequent system updates, implement offline backups, and create robust incident response strategies.
A few typical strategies include:
- Scamming through fake charity campaigns like food drives or costume collections deceive individuals into giving out personal information or contributing to fake charities.
- Special invitations to events: Scammers use email to lure people with promises of exclusive Halloween parties or VIP visits to haunted houses, in order to obtain confidential information.
- Social proof and urgency can be utilized as psychological tactics by attackers to swiftly influence victims into taking action without careful thought, such as by using statements like “Join 1,000 others at the Halloween bash!”
- Due to the increase in smart Halloween decorations, such as motion-activated props and creepy sound systems, our homes are now more connected than before. However, this interconnectedness introduces new dangers. Numerous IoT devices are equipped with vulnerable default passwords or unsecured network protocols, which consequently make them susceptible to attacks by malicious actors.
- With the growing importance of mobile devices, Halloween-themed mobile apps and SMS phishing (smishing) scams have become increasingly common. Several Halloween-themed apps, like costume dressing rooms or themed games, are being misused to demand unnecessary permissions and snatch data. This season, users need to be careful about:
- Phony costume design applications: While they may provide virtual try-on features, these apps usually ask for camera or microphone permission, which could result in personal data being stolen.
- Halloween Game Scams: Although enjoyable, holiday-themed games may contain malware or show too many ads, collecting user information to be sold on the dark web.
- Texts saying that recipients have won a costume contest or have package delivery problems can deceive users into clicking on phishing links or giving out personal information.
- To defend against mobile dangers, make sure to download apps only from authorized stores, check app permissions, and employ mobile security software.
- Halloween celebrations may heighten insider threat risks due to employees being preoccupied with seasonal events. Internal threats, whether intentional or unintentional, present distinct dangers.
- QR Code Attacks: Cyber criminals swap authentic QR codes on event tickets with fake links, luring individuals into accessing harmful websites.
- With the increased online activity during Halloween, it is important to remember the importance of having strong digital defenses.
For Individuals:
- Show caution with themed emails: Refrain from clicking on links or downloading attachments from unfamiliar Halloween-themed emails, particularly those that offer discounts or special invitations.
- Restrict IoT Access: Separate smart decorations from personal devices in a dedicated network and make sure all IoT devices have strong password protection.
- Turn on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implement MFA on every account for an additional level of protection against unauthorized entry.
- Utilize Mobile Security Software: Safeguard your devices with well-known antivirus and security applications.
For Organizations:
- Employee Awareness and Training: Provide seasonal phishing awareness and social engineering training to help employees identify and report potential threats.
- Keep an eye out for abnormal activity by utilizing EDR tools to track unusual actions, particularly from temporary staff and employees who have access to sensitive information.
- Stay safe this Halloween with these important cybersecurity tips.
