It’s the most vulnerable time of the year! The summer season, full of vacations, barbecues, and beach days, also sees employees letting their guard down, potentially opening the door to costly cyberattacks.
Amid all the chaos and sun-soaked distractions, it can be demanding to devote enough attention to the threats lurking in our social media feeds, inboxes, and other channels. Who would have thought that an invite to a pool party or an invitation to a company picnic could be suspicious or even dangerous? Attackers are also looking for shared experiences, which can make phishing emails seem personal and contextual. It’s all about timing.
For example, attackers can promise unbeatable Fourth of July sales, encourage employees to log into a fake portal to sign up for the company’s summer outing, or even assume the role of HR or other department leads to share details about a summer event that disguise malicious intent.
Along with the practical risks associated with using new online booking websites or travel agencies that they may not be familiar with, consumers may also experience high emotions of excitement about vacation plans and anxiety about missing out on last-minute deals.